The 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale gets underway this week and coincides with a busy period of racing for Proven Thoroughbreds.
As many as 14 horses have been entered for races between Tuesday and Sunday, highlighted by the O’Dea-Hoysted trio of BETTER GET SET, CONTEMPTUOUS and FETCH at the Gold Coast’s Magic Millions meeting.
Elsewhere, LITTLE COINTREAU will chase a third consecutive victory at Warwick Farm’s midweek fixture, alongside another progressive Joe Pride-trained runner in ACCREDITED.
Impressive last start winner HEYOKA (pictured) will be looking to keep her unbeaten record intact when she heads to Ipswich on Saturday.
Our first starters this week comprise ICONIC TREASURE and TERMAGANT.
The Gold Coast sales ring action gets underway at 11am local time and runs right through until Tuesday January 16.
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BLACK BOOKER
The DUBIOUS x BIMINI ROAD filly was having her first public jumpout on Tuesday morning and trialled like a seasoned professional – winning the heat easily. Will likely progress to an official trial now before potentially making her debut as a summer 2YO.
Upcoming Proven Thoroughbreds runners
Warwick Farm Wednesday January 10
BM72 Handicap 1400m
LITTLE COINTREAU
Joe Pride/Sam Clipperton
Comment: Shooting for a hat-trick. Rises to midweek grade for the first time but is on an upward spiral and has drawn well on his home track.
BM72 Handicap 1200m
ACCREDITED
Joe Pride/Rory Hutchings
Comment: Strong winner first-up here then no luck his last two starts from wide gates. Drawn much better and should be at peak fitness now.
Newcastle Thursday January 11
4YO & UP Mares Maiden Handicap 1400m
AQUATICA
Joe Pride/Rory Hutchings
Comment: Only got warm late on debut over 1300m at Wyong. Can only improve up to 1400m on a bigger track but gives the impression she will need at least a mile to be competitive.
Kembla Grange Saturday January 13
Prov Class 1 Handicap 1300m
LICHESTER
Kerry Parker/TBA
Comment: First start for new stable. Got her tongue over the bit last start and took no part. Run prior to that was encouraging. Has mixed form to date but can certainly measure up here on her best.
Gold Coast Saturday January 13
Magic Millions QTIS Open 1300m
BETTER GET SET
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Been solid without winning this campaign, placing in two of her three starts. Bumps into ROTHFIRE but makes a good case to fill one of the minor placings.
Magic Millions The Syndicate 1100m
FETCH
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Short course specialist coming off a lacklustre 4th at Ipswich but doubt she appreciated the Heavy (10) conditions that day. Likely to strike a much better surface here and has better credentials than a good deal of her opposition in this.
CONTEMPTUOUS
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Classy entire tackling this race first-up. Fresh stats are excellent and trialled very well behind GOLDEN BOOM last month.
Ipswich Saturday January 13
BM62 Handicap 1680m
BETTER YET
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Racing in great spirit. Won two back and then went down by the barest of margins when more than a month between runs. Hard fit and appears to have found her niche at a mile.
Maiden Plate 800m
TERMAGANT
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Well bred debutante scratched from last Sunday at the Sunshine Coast due to the wet track. Trials have been encouraging. Will be interesting how she handles the specialist course of 800m at Ipswich.
HEYOKA
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Couldn’t have been more impressive on debut. Was clearly headed in the straight but fought back tenaciously to win pulling away. Always hard first start out of maiden company but drops back to provincial grade so sure to be a leading chance.
Sunshine Coast Sunday January 14
BM58 Handicap 1300m
OCEAN ZAR
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Resuming. Has finished in the quinella at four of her five starts and strikes a winnable race here. Top chance.
DEEP CLEAN
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Jumped away better from the barriers last time but was posted three deep throughout. Showed great tenacity to finish within 1.5 lengths of the winner after a tough run.
QTIS 3YO Maiden Handicap 1200m/Maiden Plate 1200m
TRAVIATA
Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted/TBA
Comment: Went out a well supported odds-on favourite for her debut in July but had an interrupted run to the line before finishing on the heels of the placegetters. Subsequently sent for a spell and trials would suggest she can make amends here.
