Emerging stayer Encoder joined racing’s ‘million dollar club’ with a tenacious win in Friday night’s Queensland Magic Millions Subzero (2200m) at the Gold Coast.
The son of Encryption, who was purchased by Dream Thoroughbreds for only $40,000 out of the Lucas Bloodstock draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, advanced his prize money and bonus earnings beyond $1.1 million when he took the lion’s share of the $1 million pool in the coveted staying race.
Narrowly defeated in the TAB Wave earlier this month, Encoder went one better in the Subzero courtesy of a 5.5kg weight drop and a textbook ride by Tyler Schiller from barrier two.
The gelding outlasted the fast-finishing Belvedere Boys and Miss Joelene in a thrilling run to the post.
Hall of Fame trainer Lee Freedman said the four-year-old, who ran sixth in last year’s G1 Queensland Derby, can continue to develop into a top level stayer.
Fittingly, it was Freedman who trained Magic Millions graduate Subzero during a brilliant career that yielded wins in the Melbourne Cup, Adelaide Cup and SA Derby more than two decades ago.
“A blind chook gets a feed of corn every now and then,” Freedman said.
“This is really nice to win and the prizemoney is really great.
“53kg was the crunch – every horse I’ve ever had that ran second at weight-for-age the previous week in a big race and then dropped weight into a handicap, they almost always win.
“We’ve always had a nice opinion of the horse and I think he’ll stay even further – he’s only had one run at a mile-and-a-half on a bog in the Derby and he ran unbelievably.”
Schiller said the gelding responded when placed under pressure in the final furlong of the race.
“That’s a fantastic training performance from Lee and the team at home,” Schiller said.
“I only got on the horse because of the light weight and I’m really grateful for the opportunity.
“He put himself in a lovely spot in the run and when I cut corner I thought he was home but a couple joined me and he had to dig in for the fight.
“He did a great job late.”
Encoder is one of 31 winners from 84 runners this season for Eureka Stud’s Encryption.
