Spots on the Gold Coast will be up for grabs at Caulfield Heath this Saturday with qualification pathways to next month’s $13.5 million Magic Millions Raceday including the $250,000 MM Victoria 2YO Classic (1100m).
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The lucrative Magic Millions VIC 2YO Classic has attracted runners from New South Wales (Princely Edition, trained by Gary Colvin at Wagga Wagga) and Queensland (Gold Czech, trained by Liam Birchley at the Sunshine Coast).
Guest House (Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr) defeated fellow Magic Millions VIC 2YO Classic first starters Invincible Son (Robbie Griffiths) and Sayalero (John McArdle) when they met in an 850-metre Caulfield Heath trial on December 11.
That trio of Magic Millions graduates are also nominees for next year’s $2 million Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 21.
A $270,000 Magic Millions purchase from Newgate Farm for Mick Price Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd/Roll The Dice Racing/Rogers Bloodstock, Guest House is a half-brother to four winners headed by stakes-placed Nitrous.
He is the sixth foal of Group II placed Stratum mare Flamboyant Lass, a full sister to Group II winner Attention.
Farnan colt Invincible son was a $120,000 Magic Millions purchase from Kia Ora Stud for Griffiths Racing/ Peter Ford Thoroughbreds and is the second foal of Invincible Diva (IRE), a winning half-sister to Group II winner Painted Cliffs.
Sayalero is the highest priced yearling by King’s Legacy sold in 2025 having been bought by Regum Racing for $425,000 from the Longwood Thoroughbreds draft at Magic Millions. She is the first foal of a winning half-sister to Group III winner Eloping the dam of dual Group I winner and $5million earner In Secret.
The race favourite from the Ciaron Maher stable is Unit Five, a Supido colt that has won both trials at Cranbourne and jumps from gate one.
An $80,000 Magic Millions purchase from Widden stud for his trainer, Unit Five is the second foal of a winning Toorak Toff mare, whose dam is a half-sister to Group II winner Villa Verde, the dam of flying Group winning filly My Gladiola.
Meanwhile, the Magic Millions VIC 3YO & 4YO Classic (1200m) has attracted last start metropolitan winners Gin A Tonic (Bevan Laming) and Steel Move (Tony and Calvin McEvoy).
Ciaron Maher trained the winner of last year’s race with Yes Lulu. Maher is represented by two runners in Saturday’s race including Scampi.
Another highlight on the program is the return of Samangu, the meeting’s highest-rated runner (95), who resumes in the $130,000 Sportsbet More Places Handicap (1000m).
She might not be a Magic Millions eligible horse having been sourced from Inglis Classic, but her trainer has high hopes for this progressive young mare.
Trained at Cranbourne by Grahame Begg, the daughter of 2018 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Written By has won five of her seven starts and has tuned up with two trials at Caulfield Heath over the past month.
“A trip away (from her Cranbourne base) is beneficial, they put a little bit more into their work with a trip away on the truck,” Begg said.
“1000 metres might be short for her but she hasn’t raced for some time so it’s a good starting point for her.”
Begg advised that Samangu had a minor setback earlier this season which saw her miss the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
“It may be a blessing in disguise because the Oakleigh Plate could be a race that suits her very well,” Begg said.
Begg anticipates Samangu will race second up in the $175,000 listed W.J. Adams Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on January 24 ahead of a possible appearance in the $750,000 Group 1 Sportsbet Oakleigh Plate (1100m) on February 21.
Begg has also enjoyed a strong record at Caulfield Heath, with seven wins (26.92 per cent) and 20 top-three finishes (76.92 per cent) from 26 starters at the venue.
