
WYONG Race Club is celebrating a “magical” result.
The same two fillies O’ Ole and Memo who were the first two home in the $200,000 Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic (1100m) on December 11 again ran the quinella in last night’s grand final, the $3m MM 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast.
“Last month was the 22nd annual running of our Magic Millions 2YO Classic, and we could not have hoped for a better outcome,” Wyong general manager Greg Purcell said this morning.
“Whilst it was the first time our race has repeated the quinella at the Gold Coast, O’ Ole was the fourth horse to win both races.
“Wyong Race Club and Magic Millions have built a great ongoing partnership, and we have another three years in the current agreement.
“Last night’s result certainly augurs well for the future of our 2YO Classic.”
Karuta Queen (2010), Unencumbered (2013) and Capitalist (2015) were previous Wyong winners who completed the double at the Gold Coast.
Capitalist also won the Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m), the world’s richest two-year-old race, at Rosehill Gardens in 2016, and Wyong’s 2019 winner Farnan also won the Slipper the following year to further emphasise the strength of the club’s feature juvenile event.
The Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic could not have had a better start in its first two runnings – 2003 and 2004.
Respective winners Not A Single Doubt and Snitzel’s performances on the racetrack were further enhanced by their deeds as top-class stallions, contributing significantly to the longevity of Wyong’s race.
Both colts were placed in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast; Not A Single Doubt finishing second to subsequent Golden Slipper winner Dance Hero, and Snitzel ran third to Bradbury’s Luck the following year.
Not A Single Doubt, Snitzel and Capitalist all have sired subsequent Wyong 2YO Classic winners.
Not A Single Doubt sired Karuta Queen (2010), Farnan (2019) and Soaring Ambition (2021), Snitzel sired 2023 winner Highness, and Capitalist’s son Sovereign Fund scored in 2022.
O’ Ole’s triumph last night provided both her trainer Bjorn Baker and jockey Tommy Berry with a very special result.
Baker won the 2014 Gold Coast Magic Millions with Unencumbered, ridden by Berry’s late twin brother Nathan.
Remarkably, both horses started from the same barrier (three).
O’ Ole became a $21 chance for the March 22 Golden Slipper following last night’s win, and Memo is at $26.
Whilst today’s scheduled Wyong meeting was postponed as a result of continuing heavy rain, the club is looking forward to its Australia Day meeting on Sunday week (January 26).
Story John Curtis, January 18, 2025 - Pics Steve Hart
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