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NEWS RELEASE
RANK OUTSIDER TAKES THE SPOILS IN THE 2009 CONRAD JUPITERS MAGIC MILLIONS TWO YEAR OLD
QUEENSLANDER WINS BIG ONE AND TASMANIAN FLYER CLAIMS 3YO TROPHY
DATE RELEASED: SATURDAY 10th JANUARY 2009
IN one of the most sensational runs in Magic Millions history, $76.40 rank outsider Phelan Ready has pipped almost unbackable favourite Paprika in the shadows of the post to win today’s $2 million Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast Turf Club.
Practically unsighted during most of the 1200m journey, Phelan Ready swooped in sight of the finishing line to post the first Magic Millions win for jockey Jason Holder and the third for trainer Bruce McLachlan who tasted victory in 1990 (St Jude) and 1993 (Our Fiction).
It was also the first Queensland win in the event since Regimental Gal saluted in 2003 – delighting the bumper crowd of 13,026.
After flying out of the barriers, Paprika (Shane Scriven) was well positioned for most of the journey and entered the main straight in a two-way tussle with Psychics (Terry Treichel).
Eventual third-placegetter Motown Lady (Paul Hammersley) joined in the final sprint and it was only with two hundred metres to go that Phelan Ready launched what was to be a winning final assault on the outside.
“They just kept coming back to me and I thought ‘I’m a chance, I’m a chance’”, the former Adelaide jockey Holder said.
Phelan Ready was purchased at the 2008 Magic Millions Sales for $150,000 – instantly delivering a more than tenfold return for its owners.
Earlier in the meeting, Tasmanian flyer Tempest Tost – bought last year for $72,000 - took out the $1million Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions 3YO Trophy, giving jockey Darren Gauci and Brighton trainer Gary White their first Magic Millions victory together.
Jumping wide from barrier 11, Tempest Tost hit early traffic before finding a clear run half way down the main straight to score an emphatic $13.50 victory.
Rock Kingdom (Damien Oliver) and Jazz Heart (Shane Scriven) filled the minor placings.
It was a day of top racing and high glamour and Gold Coast Turf Club Chief Executive, John Cameron, said the Club was ecstatic with today’s event.
“The weather Gods were in our favour and the crowd was magnificent,” Mr Cameron said.
“The mood on course was sensational, our corporate and public areas were packed and the racing was the best seen on a feature for quite a while.
“We had record takings in our Members and public bars, function attendance was up 13% on our best ever year, we sold out of our most expensive French champagne and our tote takings were well up on last year.
“Queensland’s biggest raceday just came together perfectly,” he said.
Turf Club Chairman, Hoss Heinrich, thanked the Gold Coast community for backing today’s event.
“Sincere congratulations must go to everyone involved in delivering the racing component of the 2009 Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions.
“The racing was fantastic, the crowd behaviour was exceptional and it was a bonus to see a Queenslander get up in the big one,” he said.
Chair of the Gold Coast Sports Business Taskforce, Cr Bob La Castra, congratulated raceday organisers.
“It’s just an amazing carnival and its organisation is right up there with the very best thoroughbred racing events in the country,” Cr La Castra said.
“Magic Millions is an enigma in that it combines racing, fashion, entertainment and hospitality in such a way that the entire city benefits enormously.
“The cash injection into the Queensland economy is massive and, with today’s success and several days of sales still to go, it certainly looks like we’ve well and truly defied the prevailing economic conditions,” he said.
And while the stakes today were high on the track, they were also up there in the MYER Fashions on the Field with 29-year-old Yvonne Hoy from Mermaid Waters taking out the Best Dressed Female category in a subtle black and white knee-length design she bought at Victoria’s Secret on a recent trip to the United States.
She complemented her dress with a striking blue feathered Neil Grieg hat to win for herself a $5000 MYER voucher, $1000 of Antler luggage and prizes from Conrad Jupiters, Clinique and Roses Only.
Brisbane’s Lauren Walker (24) wore a stunning checkerboard feathered creation to take out the Best Hat category, while the Best Dressed Man on course was 32-year-old builder Travis Millson from Chevron Island who chose a grey pinstripe suit and tweed pork pie hat to catch the judge’s eyes.
Eighteen-year-old Academy of Design student, Jessica Taylor from Mermaid Beach, donned a simple black off the shoulder number to snare the inaugural Designer Award.
A record 600 ladies and men took to the catwalk this afternoon with judges, designer Jay Pask, The Footy Show’s ‘Lady Luck’ Jade Sutcliffe, supermodel Rebecca Twigley and columnist Regina King, praising the standard as ‘far and away the best yet’.
People wanting further information on the 2009 Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions racing can call the Gold Coast Turf Club on 07 5538 1599 or visit www.goldcoastturf.com.au
Those wanting information on the yearling sales can call 1300 MILLIONS or visit www.magicmillions.com.au
ENDS
For further information please contact:
John Cameron
Chief Executive
Gold Coast Turf Club
07 5538 1599
Wayne Hickson
07 5591 2556
0407 028 917
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