After having to endure an anxious few moments where the favourite was taken out of the barriers after being slightly fractious, connections of $2.8m yearling purchase The Next Episode had nothing to worry about as the Ciaron Maher trained colt powered to victory in the $1m Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast.
Missing the start slightly after seemingly being in the gates for some time, Jason Collet allowed the valuable colt to settle with just three behind him in the 12 horse field as Tony Gollan’s Listed Phelan Ready Stakes winner Itchintogo took up the running.
As the field of juvenile thundered into the Gold Coast straight, the leader was starting to weaken as Tony and Calvin MacEvoy’s debut winner Natural Fling (Home Affairs) put herself in the picture while Collett was still five lengths off the leaders but was starting to make a run.
Showing an electric turn of foot, The Next Episode highlighted his utter class, charging past those ahead of him in a matter of strides.
Putting the race away with ease, The Next Episode recorded a length and a half victory over Natural Fling with the Rachel King ridden Lucky Pat a further length back in third.
“Well, it was a bit nerve-wracking at the start, but look, he's a very, very, very good colt,” said a relieved Ciaron Maher post-race.
"It was a bit of a plan for a while, this race. He showed us he had plenty of ability early and we just had to wait for him and this prep he's really shown his class.
"To do it like that, it's pretty exciting for the future. The owners have all stumped up a bit of cash for him and, so far, he looks cheap.
"You know, Jason had a lot of confidence in the horse. I knew everyone else was nervous, but I knew one person wouldn't be, and that was... him so yeah wrapt that he was on and had a lot of confidence about the horse"
Having ridden him in all bar his first start, jockey Jason Collett was just in awe of his colt’s turn of foot.
“He was in the gates a lot longer and so there's a bit of work to do there. His ability is quite scary,” Collett said.
"His turn of foot is so good. I don't know if I've ever ridden a horse with a turn of foot like this, it's just electric."
With three wins and a second from his five starts to date, and $804,300 in earnings, The Next Episode was a $2.8m purchase for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the Widden Stud draft at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
Bred by Widden Stud in partnership with Warringah Stud Farm and Frampton Racing, The Next Episode is a half-brother to Anthony and Sam Freedman’s G3 placed Zoustar filly Price Tag and they’re the first two foals from G3-winning Denman mare Humma Humma, a half-sister to stakes-winner Tycoon Humma.
Humma Humma was bought for $1million by Widden Stud off the track at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and has produced four foals in a row before missing last spring after delivering a filly by Zoustar.
Widden Stud sold a yearling colt by I Am Invincible out of Humma Humma at this year’s Inglis Easter yearling sale to McEvoy Mitchell Racing Pty Ltd and Belmont Bloodstock for $600,000.
Although Friday’s race was not a stakes race, The Next Episode is one of 174 stakes winners for Champion sire Snitzel, who is currently more than $5m clear on the Australia General Sires table with just over two months of the current season remaining.
