Champion Thoroughbreds owners enjoyed that ‘magic’ feeling when the $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday was won by talented Hellbent three year-old Hell to Pay, who has a full brother to be offered by Yarraman Park at the sale next week.
Trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, Hell to Pay has chased home some smart ones when placing at his four previous starts behind Wanaruah, Codetta, Gerringong, who runs in the $3million Sunlight Plate and most recently boom So You Think filly Tuileries.
Stepping out to 1400m for the first time, Hell to Pay was given a great ride by Craig Williams and found conditions to suit when powering clear to win by a length and a half.
With a win and four placings from five starts, Hell to Pay has banked over $170,000 proving a good investment having been purchased by Champion Thoroughbreds for $280,000 from the draft of Yarraman Park, who retain an interest in his ownership.
“To be fair to the horse he kept running into smart ones in Sydney and that Tuileries is a Group horse in waiting. He loves to get his toe into the ground, so Willo rode him like a good thing and he got the job done,” said John O’Shea.
Bred and sold by Yarraman Park, Hell to Pay is the first foal and first winner for Sugar Hill, an unraced three-quarter sister to stakes-winner Harlem River, the dam of this season’s Group I placed filly Harlem River and stakes-placed Lady Harlem from the family of Everest winner Yes Yes Yes and Group I winner In Her Time.
Sugar Hill has a filly foal to follow by I Am Invincible.
