Magic Millions Classic Horses – Whats next for this years runners?

Taking out the 2017 Magic Millions 2YO classic, Toby Edmonds trained Houtzen set the benchmark 12 months ago and delivered accordingly. Despite a drift in betting, Houtzen led all the way to win the 1200m race in 1:09.49. Taking the 2018 crown, Zoustar filly Sunlight increased her winning streak to 3 after running the race in 1:09.17, beating Fullazaboot and Outback Barbie by 2 lengths. Running a better time than the very impressive Houtzen, the future looks promising for Sunlight, but how has the rest of the 2017 field fared in the last 12 months? We take a look at the finishing position of the colts and fillies, examining the highs and lows of their career to date.

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Houtzen – 1st (2018 Sunlight)

Gained a slot in the inaugural running of the Everest after a record of 5 wins from 7 starts. Houtzen would go on to be defeated in back to back group 1s at the end of the year however remains a highly regarded sprinter, showing her pure class when winning by 4L at Eagle Farm in March last year, carrying 63kg. Her only losses to date have come at the hands of She Will Reign, Russian Revolution, Redzel and Merchant Navy. Houtzen is a Group 3 winner and has current earnings of $1,734,600.

Chauffer – 2nd (2018 Fullazaboot)

Only win to date came before the Magic Millions 2YO classic, in a 2YO handicap at Rosehill on debut. Far from disgraced last year however, the Snitzel colt met strong opposition in 3 group 1 races including the Golden Slipper, Sires Produce Stakes and The Golden Rose. Placing in 4 races from 10 starts in total, his best run since the 2YO classic came in August last year, finishing runner up to Pariah in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill Gardens. Trained by Brad Widdup, Chauffer boasts $555,250 prize money.

Madeenaty – 3rd (2018 Outback Barbie)

With 7 places from 11 starts, the filly by Exceed and Excel is certainly exceeding and excelling. Her 2 wins to date have come in the listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes over the straight trip at Flemington, as well as the Wyong Magic Millions, defeating Single Bullet. Madeenaty was also a runner in the group 1 golden slipper and has been placed in group 3 company. Out of the David & B Hayes & T Dabernig stable, she has career earnings of $512,430.

Goodfella – 4th (2018 Ef Troop)

Seemingly improving with every single run, Goodfella has found himself in the money more often then not. The Snitzel colt has won 3 races so far, placing in a further 4. A listed winner, Goodfella has twice been placed in group 3 class, finishing runner up to Ours To Keep in the B.J. McLaughlin last year, and most recently 3L off Pierata in the Va Rogue plate. It would be the third time in as many runs Goodfella came across the very highly rated Pierata, finishing 1.5L 2nd in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas after the 2.9L defeat in the Va Rogue plate where he ran 3rd. Bjorn Baker trained Goodfella won back to back races in Randwick in October, contributing to his current prize money of $760,450.

Invader – 5th (2018 Secret Lady)

Group 1 winner. Invader took out the million dollar Sires Produce Stakes at Randwick in April, getting the better of Summer Passage and Trapeze Artist in a field that also included Tulip, Frolic and Menari. The colt by Snitzel has just one other victory to his name so far in a 2-year-old handicap at Randwick in February, his first start after the 2YO classic at the Gold Coast. Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Invader’s last 6 starts have all been in group company, running 2nd in the group 2 Todman Stakes prior to another solid group 1 performance, finishing runner up behind The Mission in the Champagne Stakes in April. Invader finished the year beaten by Deploy, Menari and Perast with his record now standing at 10 starts for 2 wins and 3 minor places, amassing $968,375 with some good performances on the big stage.

Invincible Star – 6th (2018 Bondi)

Just the 5 starts to date for Invincible Star, with the filly by I Am Invincible winning 2 and gaining 1 minor placing. Trained by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, she was a group 3 winner on debut, beating Lucky Louie and Madeenaty before twice finishing behind Houtzen in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and the group 3 Champagne Stakes. Invincible Star was again a group 3 winner in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes at Caulfield in October, finishing the year in impressive fashion with a 2nd placing in the group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes behind Merchant Navy. She now has $375,250 to her name.

Champ Elect – 7th (2018 Whiskey Shooter)

Hasn’t run since May 2017 however the filly by Choisir scored back-to-back victories to start her career, taking out the listed Calaway Gal Stakes in December 2016. She has been unplaced in all runs since, finishing 9th in the Ken Russell Memorial Classic at the Gold Coast and then second from the back in the group 2 Sires Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm. From the Chris Munce Stable, she has made $114,200 in prize money.

Real Princess – 8th (2018 Legislation)

Her first and only win was on the 1st of October 2016. The filly by Real Saga has had 13 appearances at the gates for 3 minor places on top of the sole victory, running 2nd on debut at Toowoomba, 3rd in a 2YO handicap at Ipswich and most recently 0.1L 2nd behind the smart Snapchat Girl at Doomben in July. Trained by Liam Birchley, she has stepped out 5 times in listed company without a place as well as racing in the group 3 B.J. McLaughlin Stakes. She has produced $457,400 prize money for connections.

Ours To Keep – 9th (2018 Anthemoessa)

Another out of the 2017 race trained by Chris Munce, he boasts a career record of 3 wins from 8 starts. The gelding by Seidnazer won his first 3 and looked a good thing for the 2YO classic at a starting price of $8. Winning his first start by over 4L, Ours To Keep then won the listed Phelan Ready Stakes and Group 3 B.J. McLaughlin Stakes consecutively. He has however failed to place in 5 starts since, and has not run since July last year. Ours To Keep has amassed $277,700 to date.

Bring It Home Pop – 10th (2018 Quackerjack)

The Darryl Hanson trained Bring It Home Pop was beaten 0.4L by Cellargirl on debut before breaking through at Eagle Farm in his 2nd start. The colt by Rothesay enjoyed a good run of 3 on the trot between July and November last year, including a victory over the 2018 3YO Guineas specked Shogun Sun. The winning streak was broken by Pierata, with Bring It Home Pop running 2nd to the gun at Doomben on December 2. The one-time group 3 runner was unplaced in his final 2 runs of last year, beaten almost 14L by Whypeeo in the Listed Gold Edition Plate. Boasting quite a handy record to date, Bring It Home Pop has had 12 starts for 4 wins and 3 minor places earning a total of $351,700.

Madame Moustache – 11th (2018 Skyray)

Perhaps a bit of an under performer, the Hinchinbrook filly’s last start was a 2nd last placing at Kembla Grange on the 13th of January this year. She won just 1 race, back on the 16th of October last year, filling the minors just once more in a 6 horse race at Warwick Farm. Trained by Chris Waller and ridden by Blake Shinn in the 2YO classic, Madame Moustache returned $111,035 to connections.

Arrestar – 12th (2018 Meryl)

Broke through on debut and has found the finish line first on just 1 occasion since. The Matthew Dunn trained gelding placed in consecutive races during July and August 2017, winning a 3YO handicap at Doomben. Most recently, he finished 3L off Femme Fireball at the Gold Coast before seeing the paddock. Arrestar has 2 wins and 2 minor places from 12 goes, winning $105,740.

From Within – 13th (2018 Witherspoon)

Showed plenty of promise when beating Invader and Chauffer on debut before a disappointing run in the 2Y0 Classic, where she started equal $4 favourite. The filly by Not A Single Doubt has been in the minors twice since, coming across some very handy opposition. She was beaten 9L by Frolic and She Will Reign the group 2 Reisling Stakes, and then 5L by Property in the Kindergarten Stakes however beating Alizee home by 0.3L on that occasion. Showing improvement as of late, she has been placed in consecutive races at Randwick earlier this year, coming from 7th to miss by just 0.3L in her most recent run. One to back next start, the Edward O’Rourke trained galloper reads 1-1-1 from 7 runs. She now has $124,750 and will look to add to that sooner rather then later.

Falconic – 14th (2018 Nomothaj)

Has had just 4 career starts to date, winning in his 2nd go when beating All Too Huiying at Rosehill back in December 2016. Falconic has not been seen since June 2017 where he ran 8th of 11 at Rosehill in his next start after the 2YO classic. The gelding my Nicconi has won just under $200,000, with his only other minor placing coming on debut when finishing 0.6L off Chauffer.

Saxton Rock – 15th (2018 Crockett)

The Snitzel Colt was a $151 shot to win the 2YO Classic, running almost 8L behind fellow $151 shot Arrestar on debut. Saxton Rock has had just the one win to date, coming in November 2016 in a 2YO handicap at Doomben. Also trained by Matthew Dunn, Saxton Rock doesn’t have the worst form lines in the world, twice placing behind Bring It Home Pop at the Sunshine Coast in July last year. Disappointing in his most recent runs, Saxton Rock has had 1 win and come in for the minors 3 times in 10 starts, clocking up $116,775 prize money.

Cellargirl – 16th (2018 Jonker)

Ran 12.1L last in the Magic Millions 2YO classic but went on to be a listed winner and group 1 placed. The Kelly Schweida trained filly struggled against Houtzen early in her career after breaking through on debut, however went on to be placed in 5 consecutive races following the 2YO classic, winning 2 in a row at Doomben. The filly by More Than Ready ran 3rd behind Alizee and Champagne Cuddles in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes prior to a very impressive showing in the group 1 Flight Stakes, again 3rd behind Alizee and Champagne Cuddles. Cellargirl has been unplaced since her group 1 showing, coming across Pierata and Whypeeo on numerous occasions and most recently running 11th of 16 in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas. Potentially taking a disliking to the Gold Coast track, Cellargirl showed plenty of promise in 2017, earning $243,700 in prize money.

With last place getter Cellargirl finding herself on the podium in group 1 company, 2018 is fair game for the whole of this year’s field. Names such as Sunlight, Ef Troop and Jonker were all highly rated going into the 2YO classic, however only time will tell if they live up to the 2-year-old hype.