A $6,500 bargain buy took out the lucrative $570,000 first prize in the $1 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas 2015 at the Gold Coast today with the Lloyd Kennewell-trained Adelaide raider Deiheros scoring a massive win for connections.
Kennewell snapped up the son of Bon Hoffa for a steal in the Adelaide Magic Millions Sales, the up-and-comer showing early promise with a five and a half-length win in the Magic Millions Adelaide 2YO Classic at just his second start in March last year.
The young trainer was over-the-moon then with his massive pay day in Queensland this weekend, Deiheros flashing home for a smart victory in the $1 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m).
“We paid $6,500 for him in Adelaide,” Kennewell said after the win.
“Good to see those (cheaper) horses win for the battlers a few times.”
It was a big improvement on his last start tenth on December 27 when beaten over four lengths in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) at the track after an awkward jump and wide run on the rain-affected course.
“He really didn’t handle the track the other day,” Kennewell said.
“He didn’t have much luck and did everything wrong.
“Basically the horse had a few gear changes…and it worked beautifully (today).”
Deiheros ($21), improving with the tongue tie on, won by around two lengths over a fast finishing Testashadow ($8) trained by Sydney’s Gary Portelli who took out the race before with the well-travelled Straturbo in the MM Open Sprint.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained Echo Gal ($10) then held for third after her second in the Wyong edition last time out on December 18.
Magic Millions Guineas favouirte Hijack Hussy ($3.70) failed to fire getting well back and unable to make up any ground in a luckless and disappointing run that saw her finish at the tail end of the field.
The winning gelding Deiheros meanwhile was given a gun ride from Ric McMahon who settled his mount just off the speed set early by the Wyong Magic Millions 3YO Stakes winner Aerobar.
Last start Vo Rogue Plate winner Mywayorthehighway then went up to take front-running leading Aerobar and the rest of the field around.
With 700m left to travel Echo Gal burst through into third while the eventual winner Deiheros sat in the perfect position fourth on the fence ready to strike.
Heading into the straight Aerobar got away to lead again while Deiheros took the shortcut, saving ground to speed up on the inside and balancing up to hit the front over the 200m and fly away after scintillating late burst.
“He done everything right today,” McMahon said.
“The other day he got on his wrong leg.
“I thought he was a chance today without being an over-the-line job.
“I felt as though he improved a lot and he did a really good job so hopefully he can go onto bigger and better things.”
On the line the winner held a good margin over the Sydney horses finishing off the Magic Millions Guineas trifecta, the result a blanket finish from second to seventh past the post.
“The last 200 metres was good,” Kennewell said.
“It was a good win and a great ride by Ricky McMahn…a beautiful ride.
“It was effortless. It was beautiful and that’s what we’re here for.”
“That’s right up there with winning the Adelaide Cup for the same owner.
“Good to get a winner for him.”
Now is the time to head to Ladbrokes.com.au and back the Magic Millions 2YO Classic Megafecta next race where by picking 1 – 7 over the line in the right order can turn $1 into $1 million this afternoon at the country’s best bookie!
2015 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas Results & Finishing Order
Gold Coast Race 5 – 10/01/2015
Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | DEIHEROS | Lloyd Kennewell | Ric McMahon | – | 7 | 57kg | $26 |
2 | 3 | TESTASHADOW | Gary Portelli | Tim Clark | 2L | 12 | 57kg | $8 |
3 | 13 | ECHO GAL | Gai Waterhouse | Tommy Berry | 2.2L | 9 | 55kg | $10 |
4 | 9 | LIBERTY ISLAND | Chris Waller | Glyn Schofield | 2.3L | 14 | 57kg | $8 |
5 | 7 | MURT THE FLIRT | Brendan McCarthy | Brenton Avdulla | 2.4L | 16 | 57kg | $21 |
6 | 15 | AEROBAR | Gerald Ryan | James McDonald | 2.6L | 4 | 55kg | $13 |
7 | 17e | SHE’S MISS DEVINE | Kelso Wood | Michael Cahill | 2.7L | 13 | 55kg | $26 |
8 | 5 | BOLD CIRCLE | David Payne | Hugh Bowman | 2.8L | 15 | 57kg | $14 |
9 | 10 | MYWAYORTHEHIGHWAY (NZ) | Mick Mair | Daniel Griffin | 3L | 8 | 56kg | $17 |
10 | 11 | HIJACK HUSSY | Tony Gollan | Timothy Bell | 4.3L | 6 | 55.5kg | $3.30F |
11 | 12 | TALES OF FASHION | Trevor Bailey | Damian Browne | 4.4L | 5 | 55.5kg | $14 |
12 | 14 | STROAK | Bryan Guy | Brad Stewart | 5.7L | 11 | 55kg | $17 |
13 | 1 | FIXATION | Tony Gollan | Ryan Wiggins | 5.9L | 2 | 57.5kg | $51 |
14 | 8 | YEAGER | Tony Gollan | Chris Munce | 6.7L | 3 | 57kg | $41 |
15 | 4 | CYCLONE | Bjorn Baker | Damien Oliver | 6.8L | 1 | 57kg | $14 |
16 | 18e | MISTER BOOZE | Peter Fleming | Jackson Morris | 10.8L | 10 | 57kg | $151 |
– | 20e | I AM ZELADY | Sam Kavanagh | – | – | 0 | – | – |
– | 21e | I AM IMPRESSED | Ron Quinton | Joshua Parr | – | 0 | – | – |
– | 19e | POLYNIKES | Bryan Guy | Jim Byrne | – | 0 | – | – |
– | 6 | VIENNA ROYALE | Tony Gollan | Tegan Harrison | – | 0 | – | – |
– | 16 | HERSTORY | Peter G Moody | Michael Walker | – | 0 | – | – |