Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Thursday Jan 7

It’s the last chance saloon to make the field for Saturday weeks $2 million Magic Millions 2yo Classic for many lining up in the Aquis Gold Pearl Quality and the Aquis Gold Nugget Quality at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Following a career debut fourth to Jonker in the 2018 Wyong Magic Millions, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Terminology needed to win the Gold Pearl to claim a spot in the $2million feature.

Swift Witness a $260,000 Magic Millions Yearling

The daughter of Star Witness was towelled up that day by a filly named Sunlight.

While Sunlight was taking her first steps to greatness in the Classic, Terminology returned to Sydney, where she endured a frustrating campaign.

Winless in six starts, Terminology returned to the Gold Coast 12 months later to capture the $250,000 Magic Millions maiden after finishing second to Military Zone in the Listed Gosford Guineas.

Terminology’s sister Swift Witness will be out to break her maiden in Saturday’s Aquis Gold Pearl Quality for fillies, and there does not look to be a Sunlight in the race.

At her career debut, Swift Witness was an even third behind the runaway winner, and current 2yo Classic favourite, She’s All Class in the Wyong Magic Millions.

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Purchased by her trainers for $260,000 out of the Widden Stud draft at the 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Swift Witness is the fifth foal of the winning Commands mare Taylor’s Special who was purchased for $40,000 by Stallion Racing Partners at the 2016 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale.

Taylor’s Special is a half-sister to the Group III SAJC Queen Of The South Stakes winner So Pristine (Zabeel), the stakes-winner Restored (Red Ransom) and to the dam of the 2017-18 NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year Dijon Bleu (Burgundy).

The dam of Taylor’s Special Pristine Kristine (Spinning World) is a daughter of the Cure The Blues mare Blue Sage, a half-sister to Theatrical (Nureyev) the Champion Turf Horse in the USA in 1987 and to the multiple Japanese stakes-winner Taiki Blizzard (Seattle Slew).

Another half-sister is the outstanding broodmare North of Eden (Northfields) whose four stakes-winners were led by Group 1 winners Paradise Creek (Irish River), Wild Event (Wild Again) and Forbidden Apple (Pleasant Colony).

The result of Saturday’s race will be closely monitored by Widden Stud who will offer a full-brother to Swift Witness at the Magic Millions (Lot 871).

The chestnut colt has the dubious distinction of being the first lot in the ring at the often-rowdy Saturday night session. However, it may be slightly less raucous this year.

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