17/1/2026 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets – Gold Coast, Magic Millions Raceday

A bumper ten event program has been set for the Gold Coast this Saturday for Magic Millions Day. Weather is fine, track is soft (5) and the rail is out two metres for the entire circuit.

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2 Buckeye (Bet Now:  $SP.00) looks prepped right up for this. Son of Zousain that resumes for O’Shea/Charlton, having not raced since Sep 17 when placing in a maiden at Canterbury over this trip behind Benevac. Looks to have trialled up really well for the return, with clear intent for this race.

5 Zoufame (Bet Now:  $SP.00) looks a sharp three year old that resumes for Bjorn Baker after a debut second at Bathurst in August, beaten as a deep odds on favourite albeit narrowly. Given a good break and his latest trial saw him win by a space in fast time so keen to see how he goes.

8 Royal Air Force (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a Chris Waller trained colt that comes here off the back of an okay effort in a Randwick benchmark race on Boxing Day when off speed and kept chasing in a pretty solid effort behind Beside The Ocean. Back to maiden grade, fast run 1100m, he’s dangerous.

15 Master Of Disguise (Bet Now:  $SP.00) each way for me here. Loved the way she let down to win two back at Orange before going to 1400m at Canberra in a Federal when on speed and tried hard but just felt the pinch late. Back to 1200m looks ideal, should get a drag across and be strong late.

6 Revolt (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is such a fascinating runner. Jay Morris had him for ten starts and he won seven of them, the vast majority by a space. He was too good for them in North Queensland. Good test here fresh at 1200m, but he looks a beauty who will press forward and give his all.

12 Arctic Legend (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a few weeks between runs since resuming over 1000m here. Market said he’d need the run and that’s how it eventuated when down the track, just finding them a bit sharp. He was promising when with Cody Morgan and had trialled well prior so I am not dismissing.

6 Lady Moscato (Bet Now:  $SP.00) looks a good mover for GaiBott. 2/2 at the trials, the latest seeing her win a couple of weeks ago at Randwick and won well, winning by a space and ran decent time. Will land on speed and prove hard to get past.

8 Warrego River (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a Spirit Of Boom filly that debuts for Tony Gollan off the back of a trial win here over 850m when winning comfortably and ran good time relative to the morning. Bred to be handy, trialled like she is handy, watch betting.

9 Cherry Bombshell (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a daughter of Lucky Vega that is having start one for Team Archibald. She has had two trials under the belt to get ready, the latest over 1050m when second, so for mine, that is a good grounding for what should be a brutal 1000m. Watch betting.

I think 3 Encoder (Bet Now:  $SP.00) can go back to back. I reckon he’s flying. Trialled up very well prior to resuming in the Members Mile when not suited by the tempo. He was given a peach by J Mac in The Wave and it took Miss Joelene with hard fitness and a turn of foot to beat him. I think 2200m, hard fit now, he seems a big price.

1 Miss Joelene (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a ripping mare that won The Wave last Saturday at the Gold Coast, giving them a start and a beating but was able to settle more handy and that was the difference between winning and losing. 2200m should be fine, she commands respect.

15 Social Outcast (Bet Now:  $SP.00) won’t know himself with just 52kg on his back. Latest run was a win over 2000m at Ipswich, lumping 60.5kg and finished best from off speed. Lacks the class but right down in the weights, he’s one for exotics.

On paper, not a great set up for 6 It’s A Knockout (Bet Now:  $SP.00) with just one soft trial last week at Kembla, but given she is based at Bong Bong, I am sure she has had a jumpout or two there, she’s had her nails done, good pampering session…she’s ready to go for here, especially being owned by Dynamic. The Syndicators love to show off on this race day and this mare is quality. I think she’ll run a beauty.

3 Lonhro’s Queen (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a talented mare I have a query on running a strong 1300m, but she does have a dynamic turn of foot and her win in the Nudgee was dynamic, the way she sprinted from off speed and safely held Midnight In Tokyo in the run to the line. If she runs 1300m, she can win.

7 Sunset Dreaming (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is bursting to win for Tony Gollan. She ran two weeks back in the Nudgee where she got back off speed again and spotted those in front a start but closed off really well late behind Lonhro’s Queen. If within range, she has the finale to be dangerous.

8 Gin A Tonic (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is absolutely humming for Richard Laming and has to be respect here after his dynamic win at Caulfield Heath, leading throughout over 1200m and was dominant in the run to the line. Great racing style, in form, keeps running…takes beating.

2 The Instructor (Bet Now:  $SP.00) lands on speed and will take running down, as seen first up in the Canterbury Sprint. He looked all over the winner when he led and found but first up, with the weight, condition just gave way late and was nabbed by King’s Secret. Better for the run, good racing style, he’s tough and will be hard to get past.

5 Steady Ready (Bet Now:  $SP.00) was well specked at odds when resuming in the Bribie at Eagle Farm but after getting into a decent spot in transit just off speed, he couldn’t come on and was never really a factor. Tick over trial was strong and his best is good enough to be dangerous at odds.

There’s been nothing that has really smashed the clock per se. But, I do think the one missed is 5 Unit Five (Bet Now:  $SP.00). I think he’s a rocket. Not sure he beat a great deal, but the manner in which he put them away and ran time…I think he goes very good. Loved the way he moved in a Gold Coast trial, 1200m is fine, he’ll stalk the speed, be strong late…think he only runs well.

1 Zip Lock (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a key chance. Hard to knock a horse that’s 2/2. He hasn’t done a lot on the clock and may bring slightly second-tier form, but he’ll be strong at the end of 1200m and maps ideally so he’s a leading chance.

11 Mystical (Bet Now:  $SP.00) looks a really good filly for Michael Freedman. Eye catching debut at Newcastle in the Max Lees before going to the Wyong Magic Millions when ridden like a barrier trial and was strong late behind Paradoxium. She is one of the hardest to beat.

10 Memo (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is the one I want to back each way. It was THE typical Snowden lead up run to a Grand Final in the Gosford Guineas. Off speed, held up, not much intent to win and worked to the line behind Caffe Florian, regarded as a Group l filly. I think she’ll love getting to 1400m and does have quality form around her to say she runs a beauty.

If 1 Ninja (Bet Now:  $SP.00) repeats what he did in the Vo Rogue, they won’t beat him. Simple as that. Last time a horse did what he did, she went on to win 30 odd races on the bounce, four Cox Plates and is regarded by some as the greatest to ever grace the Australian turf. Ninja isn’t her, but that win was just something else. Just has to run up to that effort, even come off a touch. But, the gate is awful.

3 Damien (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a slight query at 1400m but he is a genuine animal for Kris Lees. Just did a bit too much early work in the Vo Rogue and the hard run just told late in the piece behind Nitro. Think with a more patient run in transit, he can run first four.

I am really keen on 5 Depth Of Character (Bet Now:  $SP.00). 12/10 ride in the Northerly but just didn’t run the 1800m out. Fresh legs, back to 1400m, he thrives in Queensland and he did set looked to jog in an Eagle Farm trial last week. If he brings his best, gee I think he’ll take beating.

2 Bosustow (Bet Now:  $SP.00) comes here with fresh legs, having not raced since the CF Orr when outclassed but far from disgraced in defeat behind a rocket in Jimmysstar. Moved well in a recent Randwick trial, 1400m specialist and does have a touch of class on his side.

13 Meridius… (Bet Now:  $SP.00) huge win first up three weeks back at Cranbourne over 1200m, his first run since Oct 2024. He gave them a start and a beating in a very impressive effort. If it’s all upside and no second up syndrome, he can be a sneaky first four threat.

14 Roselyn’s Star (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is an O’Shea/Charlton trained gelding that resumes. He is first up, having not raced since Oct 11 when ending last prep on a high when a winner over 1100m at Rosehill. He has looked strong in a couple of trials and stable is flying at the moment.

7 Silentstar (Bet Now:  $SP.00) looks to have returned really well and is a key threat. He resumed over 1000m on Boxing Day at Randwick off one soft trial. He tried hard but had no answers late for Power Of The Brave. Better for the run and up in trip, he is in with a shout.

9 Amore Veloce (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is one I can entertain for exotics. She ran four weeks back at Eagle Farm when down the track behind Dream Smart after sitting on speed. Looked sharp in a recent trial win…does she win? I say no, but she can run first four at a price.

BEST BET: Race One Number 2 Buckeye

NEXT BEST: Race Eight Number 10 Memo

LONG SHOT: Race Nine Number 5 Depth Of Character

 

Quaddie (Races Seven Through To Ten):

Leg One: 1, 5, 11, 16

Leg Two: 1, 10

Leg Three: 2, 4, 5, 8, 13

Leg Four: 7, 9, 13, 14

$50 Investment = 31.25% of the dividend if successful.