Great day for Widden Stud’s Trapeze Artist with a new stakes-winner when Disneck took out the Group III VRC Standish Handicap at Flemington and then at the Gold Coast talented four year-old Spywire landed the $1million Magic Millions They Syndicate (1100m)
Having run third in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in 2024 and unplaced in the inaugural The Sunlight last year, Spywire returned to Queensland as a four-year-old this summer to chase a win that could take his earnings beyond $1 million.
He did just that courtesy of a brilliant ride from Ethan Brown, who parked the gelding in the perfect position just behind the speed. Spywire reeled in the leaders inside the final 150m before staving off the late challenge of King Kapa and Payline.
Winning trainer Ciaron Maher said it was a satisfying victory for the large ownership group, headed by Ozzie Kheir and John O’Neill.
Maher teamed up with G1 Bloodstock to pay $520,000 for Spywire out of the Widden Stud draft at the 2023 Gold Coast Yearling Sale and he intends to inspect the gelding’s half-brother by Anamoe (Lot 781) at next week’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“They are great owners, he’s a lovely horse and that was a beautiful ride from Browny (Ethan Brown),” Maher said.
“To be following the favourite, one-out, one-back, it doesn’t get much better.
“Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong last start but I thought he was in a pretty good spot coming into this.
“It (racing) is the best, especially on the Gold Coast at this time of year.
“They (Magic Millions) do such a great job of getting all the owners here and making them feel welcome.
“Antony Thompson (from Widden Stud) was standing beside me (during the race) and he’s got his brother in the sale so I’m sure he’ll be rubbing his hands together expecting me to put a few more bids in.”
Brown, who has stamped himself as one of the country’s premier jockeys in the last 18 months, said he rides with such confidence on Maher’s horses.
“He (Maher) has just backed me all the way through, he gives me plenty of confidence and I seem to gel well with his horses,” Brown said
“Also Johnny (O’Neill) and Ozzie (Kheir) and their crew, they’ve backed me to the hilt so it’s good to reward them with good winners.
“He was tough today.
“Those horses half got to him but he dug deep late.”
With five wins and six placings from 16 starts and prizemoney in excess of $1.3million, Spywire was bred by Widden in partnership with Robert Anderson.
Spywire is the best of three winners from four foals to race from stakes-winning Denman mare Secret Trail, who was covered last spring by Zoustar.
