The $2million Magic Millions 2yo Classic proved a triumph for Godolphin who made it's first foray to the Magic Millions in 2018 and came away with the winner Exhilarates.
Given a cold ride by Kerrin McEvoy, the James Cummings-trained filly came from the back of the field to overpower the Not A Single Doubt colt Dubious by three-quarters of a length with a half neck back to the Written Tycoon gelding Hightail in third. (photos Steve Hart ).
The royally-bred daughter of Snitzel and the top-class Samaready clocked in as the sixth most expensive lot by her sire at last years Magic Millions but she has earned her $600,000 purchase price back with interest with two wins and two seconds from five starts netting $1,313,750.
It has been a meteoric rise for the filly who failed to beat a runner home at her first start at Rosehill back on November 10.
"This has been a tremendous effort by the whole team," Cummings told AAP.
"You are seeing a far different horse from the filly who was beaten at Rosehill at her first start.
"But that is the case with many of our young horses as we don't rush them early in the season and around Christmas, they start coming into their own."
"She got up here early and then had to win last week to get into the field.
"It was important because she got a look at the track and it helped her fitness.
"I obviously learned a lot from Bart who was a very good two-year-old trainer as well as everything else.
"But I have also learned from watching my father Anthony, Gai Waterhouse and Peter Snowden.
"We indicated we would be joining the market and we have signalled our arrival."
Bred by Vinery Stud, Exhilarates is the first named foal of Samaready whose six wins from 13 starts included the Group 1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes in 2012 and Group 1 MVRC AJ Moir Stakes the following year.
The daughter of More Than Ready (USA) has a yearling colt by All Too Hard. After slipping in 2017, Samaready was one of 206 mares to visit Yarraman Park Stud's I Am Invincible last spring.
Exhilarates broke new ground for Snitzel (photo Mark Smith) in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic.
He tasted success for the first time in the valuable race while Samaready's sire More Than Ready (USA) won the race in 2008 with Augusta Proud and with Phelan Ready the following year.
With Snitzel's son Bondi nosed out in the $2million Magic Millions Guineas, Exhilarates may have delivered the hammer blow to I Am Invincible in the race for Champion Sire.
I Am Invincible tasted success on the day with his daughter Invincibella going back to back in the $1 million MM Fillies & Mares but the gap is widening and Snitzel continues to power on with doubles at Randwick and Flemington adding up to a massive payday.
