After buying at least one yearling just about every year since the inception of the Magic Millions, there would be few more deserving or popular winners of the Magic Millions 2yo Classic than Alan and Jennifer Acton.
The fourth-generation owners of the historic Wilpeena cattle station came closest last year when the Tony Gollan-trained Outback Barbie finished a troubled third behind Sunlight and Fullazaboot at just her second race start.
The daughter of Spirit Of Boom had opened her winning account at her race debut in the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes at Doomben.
After proving her class south of the border during the spring when placing in the Group II Percy Sykes Stakes and Group II Silver Shadow Stakes, Outback Barbie returned home to capture a Listed race at Doomben on December 1.
Outback Barbie will be out to parlay that victory in Saturday’s Listed Gold Edition Plate at Doomben where she takes on the undefeated Zoustyle.
But, for the Acton’s the thrill will start earlier in the day when their Snitzel filly Country Cocktail will be out to emulate Outback Barbie by winning the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes and earn a start in the $2 million Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 12.
It will be the third race start for County Cocktail who disappointed as a short-priced favourite when unplaced on a heavy track at Doomben on October 6 before finishing second behind the speedy Betaima two months later.
Bred by Nick Vaas, Country Cocktail (pictured as a yearling ) was purchased for $450,000 out of the Newgate Farm consignment at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
She is the second foal of the smart racemare Urban Groove who was herself purchased out of the same sales ring as a yearling by Gai Waterhouse for $240,000 in 2011.
Despite having a racing career restricted to three starts, there can be no denying the class of Urban Groove.
The daughter of acclaimed broodmare sire Charge Forward broke her pelvis as a two-year-old and her debut was delayed until September of her three-year-old season when she trotted up by five lengths in a maiden over 1200 metres at Kembla Grange.
A fortnight later she was backed off the map to win the Listed Reginald Allan Quality (1200m) at Rosehill and duly obliged under Tommy Berry encouraging connections to throw in an entry for the Group 1 Flight Stakes over 1600 metres at Randwick.
Sent out favourite for the third time, Urban Groove could do no better than fourth behind Norzita (Thorn Park), Longport (Casino Prince) and Dear Demi (Dehere) in what turned out to be her swansong.
The first foal of Urban Groove was the $260,000 Fastnet Rock filly Showy Zoe who has not been seen out since finishing last of seven runners at Warwick Farm back in March last year and was sold at this year’s National Broodmare Sale for $30,000.
Country Cocktail is her second live foal and she is followed by a Snitzel colt that will be consigned by Newgate Farm as Lot 258 at the upcoming Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
On October 29, Urban Groove foaled a filly by Magic Millions 2yo Classic and Golden Slipper winner Capitalist.
The dam of Urban Groove, the Sydney winning Flying Spur mare Morton, is a daughter of the pint-sized filly Heat Of The Moment (Blazing Saddles) who is best remembered for her wins in the autumn of 1986 in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes and Group 1 George Ryder Stakes before a game third behind Hula Chief and King Phoenix in the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap.
