Written Tycoon filly Coolangatta kept up the great strike rate for favourites in the $2,000,000 Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast when she held the challenge of the game Russian Conquest.
It was a second win in the race in three years for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace following Away Game in 2020.
Given the run of the race by James McDonald, Coolangatta struck the front at the top of the straight and bravely defied the challenge of the Russian Revolution filly Russian Conquest by a long head. The Snitzel filly Snitcat was a further two and a quarter lengths back in third ahead of Perfect Mission (The Mission) who made it a 1-2-3-4 for the fillies.
The winner of the Group III ATC Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick on October 2, Coolangatta prepped for the Millions with a win in the Group III Magic Millions BJ McLachlan Stakes at Doomben on Boxing Day.
Now
unbeaten in three starts Coolangatta takes her earnings to $1,394,000.
The daughter of Written Tycoon is raced by a partnership that includes prominent owners John O'Neill, Ozzie Kheir, Brae Sokolski, and Matthew Becker’s Group 1 Bloodstock.
Maher paid tribute to Eustace, as well as Bloodstock Manager Will Bourne, who identified the filly early.
“Dave and I aren’t normally at the track together. He’s somewhere and I’m usually somewhere else, so it’s great to share it with him today,” Maher said.
“It’s a big relief when they’re such a short-priced favourite.
“She’ll have a break now and head towards the Slipper.”
It was a first Magic Millions 2yo Classic for McDonald
“She’s a special filly,” McDonald said.
“The race played out perfectly, I got into the best spot possible and she does the rest.
“It was a great thrill to ride such a dominant favourite in the race, it comes with big expectations and I’m glad to be able to aid her with a nice ride.
“I’ve ridden some nice two-year-olds and she’s definitely up there.”
Maher has been extremely active at this week’s 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with a string of high-priced purchases, including a $1.7 million Not A Single Doubt colt (Lot 261) and a $1.5 million Pierro colt (Lot 419).
He also paid $800,000 for an I Am Invincible filly (Lot 676) out of Milburn Creek's draft.
Bred by Highclere Stud Australia, Coolangatta was a $280,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the Milburn Creek draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is a half-sister to the promising 3yo Snitzel gelding Snitzonfire. They are the first two foals of the Sydney winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Piping Hot.
A $320,000 purchase by John and Jake Warren at the 2015 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Piping Hot is a half-sister to the Group 1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Reaan (Hussonet), a daughter of the Group II Moonee Valley Oaks winner Ribe (Danehill).
Piping Hot has a yearling filly by Dundeel and was covered by Capitalist last spring but missed.
It was a second win in the Millions for reigning Champion stallion, the Yulong Stud resident Written Tycoon, after Capitalist in 2016.
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