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The Gold Coast Magic Millions Country Cup is one of the lucrative restricted Magic Millions Races run during the January carnival in Queensland each summer.
Magic Millions Country Cup News
The Magic Millions Country Cup is one of the feature races run at the Gold Coast Racecourse in Queensland each January taking place as part of the bumper $12.5 million Magic Millions Gold Coast Race Day.
2026 Magic Millions Country Cup Results
Stay tuned for the official 2026 Magic Millions Country Cup Results & Finishing Order on Saturday January 17, 2026.
- 1st: No. 3 Sir Carter ($8)
- 2nd: No. 17e Astra Star
- 3rd: No. 10 Oberoi Princess
Winning Margin: 0.04 lengths
Winning Time: 1:09.34
The Peter & Will Hulbert trained Zoustar six-year-old from Brisbane, Sir Carter ($8) produced a tough, tradesmanlike performance to win the 2026 Magic Millions Country Cup at the Gold Coast on Saturday, overcoming a wide run and a strong on?pace tempo to deliver a popular result for his country connections. Ridden with confidence up front by jockey Zac Lloyd, the seasoned gelding kept finding under pressure in the straight, fending off a wall of challengers in the final 100 metres. The victory capped a remarkable rise through the country?cups circuit and showcased the grit and consistency that have made Sir Carter a fan favourite across regional Queensland.
| 3. Sir Carter (4) J: Zac Lloyd58kg 548x1T: Peter & Will Hulbert | ||
| 17. Astra Star (3) J: Sean Cormack54.5kg 136x3T: Kris Hansen | ||
| 10. Oberoi Princess (13) J: Martin Harley56kg x1173T: Chris & Corey Munce | ||
| 12. Arctic Legend (1) J: Andrew Mallyon55.5kg 711x6T: Matthew Dunn | ||
| 4. Mean Approach (10) J: Les Tilley58kg 93615T: Pat Webster | ||
| 9. Party Spirit (5) J: Daniel Moor56kg x3215T: Robert Heathcote | ||
| 14. The Deputy (7) J: Rachel King55kg 2325xT: Dale Groves | ||
| 6. Revolt (12) J: Damian Lane57kg 1111xT: Darryl Hansen | ||
| 8. Deciduous (9) J: Ben Thompson56.5kg 12470T: Jason Judge | ||
| 5. Letmeletgo (8) J: James McDonald58kg 64x42T: Alisha Taylor | ||
| 7. Media Empire (2) J: Raul Silvera Olivera57kg x3465T: Jason Morgan | ||
| 2. Earl Of Bantry (15) J: Jamie Melham58kg 311x2T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 15. Master Of Disguise (14) J: Pierre Boudvillain54kg 56214T: Danielle Seib | ||
| 1. King Gutho (11) J: Tommy Berry59kg 0x681T: Joe Cleary | ||
| 13. Stratified (6) J: Tim Clark55.5kg 76134T: Mack Griffith | ||
| 11. Jemeldi (16) J: Angela Jones56kg 345x4T: Philip Minter |
Traditionally held on the same day as the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas – both worth $3 million in prize money – from 2020 to 2022 the Magic Millions Country Cup ran the week prior and offered $250,000 in prize money.
The 2023 edition of the Magic Millions Country Cup moved back to the Magic Millions Race Day at the Gold Coast and prize money was boosted to $500,000.
Run under quality handicap conditions the race is a 1200m sprint for Magic Millions graduates only.
There are other special conditions around this race with horses that have won a race at a Metropolitan status meeting in Australia within the preceding two years ineligible to compete in the Magic Millions Country Cup field.
Horses must also have started in a minimum of five Provincial or Country level races in the 12 months leading up to the nomination deadline.
The Gold Coast Magic Millions Country Cup 2026 ran on Saturday January 17, 2026 and saw the Peter & Will Hulbert trained Sir Carter ($8) hold on for a narrow win off an impressive front-running performance.
| 2026 Magic Millions Country Cup | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday January 17, 2026 |
| Track: | Gold Coast Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1200m |
| Race Type: | Quality Handicap (Low: 54kg – High: 61kg) |
| Status: | Restricted – Special Conditions |
| Prize Money: | $500,000 |
2026 Magic Millions Country Cup Betting
The latest Magic Millions Country Cup 2026 betting odds will be available at Ladbrokes.com.au and also published here at Races.com.au as soon as markets on the January feature are out.
Sir Rocket ($1.45 in 2022), Ezekeil ($3.40 in 2023), and Slippin’ Jimmy ($3.50 in 2025) are the last favourites in Magic Millions Country Cup betting to win.
2026 Magic Millions Country Cup Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2026 MAGIC MILLIONS COUNTRY CUP FORM GUIDE
2026 Magic Millions Country Cup Field
The Gold Coast Magic Millions Country Cup 2026 field has a capacity of 16 starters plus five emergencies and is set for release the Wednesday ahead of the race.
The 2026 Magic Millions Country Cup final field features a full line-up of country gallopers led in betting by Darryl Hansen’s resuming Russian Revolution four-year-old Revolt chasing his seventh win on the trot.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2x3450x681 | KING GUTHO | Joe Cleary | Tommy Berry | 14 | 59kg | 78 | ||
| 2 | 112x1311x2 | EARL OF BANTRY | Ciaron Maher | Ms Jamie Melham | 18 | 58kg | 76 | ||
| 3 | x4211548x1 | SIR CARTER | Peter & Will Hulbert | Zac Lloyd | 4 | 58kg | 76 | ||
| 4 | 0121×93615 | MEAN APPROACH | Pat Webster | Les Tilley | 12 | 58kg | 76 | ||
| 5 | 1413064×42 | LETMELETGO | Alisha Taylor | James McDonald | 10 | 58kg | 76 | ||
| 6 | 49x111111x | REVOLT | Darryl Hansen | Damian Lane | 15 | 57kg | 74 | ||
| 7 | 70216×3465 | MEDIA EMPIRE | Jason Morgan | Raul Silvera Olivera | 2 | 57kg | 74 | ||
| 8 | 16×7712470 | DECIDUOUS | Jason Judge | Ben Thompson (late alt) | 11 | 56.5kg | 73 | ||
| 9 | 04298×3215 | PARTY SPIRIT | Robert Heathcote | Daniel Moor | 6 | 56kg | 76 | ||
| 10 | 41146×1173 | OBEROI PRINCESS | Chris & Corey Munce | Martin Harley | 16 | 56kg | 76 | ||
| 11 | x6850345x4 | JEMELDI | Philip Minter | Ms Angela Jones | 19 | 56kg | 72.5 | ||
| 12 | x27x5711x6 | ARCTIC LEGEND | Matthew Dunn | Andrew Mallyon | 1 | 55.5kg | 71 | ||
| 13 | 421×776134 | STRATIFIED | Mack Griffith | Tim Clark | 8 | 55.5kg | 71 | ||
| 14 | x41132325x | THE DEPUTY (NZ) | Dale Groves | Ms Rachel King | 9 | 55kg | 70 | ||
| 15 | 1012×56214 | MASTER OF DISGUISE | Danielle Seib | Pierre Boudvillain | 17 | 54kg | 55kg | 72.5 | |
| 16 | 1x239909x1 | HELLCIBELL | Brett & Georgie Cavanough | Jason Collett | 20 | 54kg | 54.5kg | 72 | |
| 17e | 22144136×3 | ASTRA STAR | Kris Hansen | Sean Cormack | 3 | 54.5kg | 69 | ||
| 18e | 4825273533 | I AM VOODOO | Ray Dart | 5 | 54.5kg | 69 | |||
| 19e | 1493213223 | SLUSH FUND | Clint Lundholm | Ms Cejay Graham | 13 | 54kg | 68 | ||
| 20e | 2115×21665 | BUNDELLA | Tony Gollan | Ms Angela Jones | 7 | 53kg | 66 | ||
| 21e | 7836×43233 | CORRUPTED | Renita Beaton | 21 | 54kg | 65 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2026 Magic Millions Country Cup Nominations
Early Magic Millions Country Cup nominations for 2026 close the week of the race.
Magic Millions Country Cup History
The Magic Millions Country Cup is currently run on the $13.75 million Magic Millions Race Day in mid-January.
From 2020 to 2022 it was moved to its own feature meeting at the Gold Coast a week earlier. It was first run under the current conditions in 2016 with the Joe Cleary-trained War Jet the inaugural winner.
Magic Millions Country Cup Winners
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Magic Millions Country Cup |
1st | Sir Carter | 1 minute 9.34 seconds |
| 2nd | Astra Star | ||
| 3rd | Oberoi Princess | ||
| 2025 Magic Millions Country Cup |
1st | Slippin’ Jimmy | 1 minute 10.35 seconds |
| 2nd | King Gutho | ||
| 3rd | Flying Birds | ||
| 2024 Magic Millions Country Cup |
1st | Zoumeteor | 1 minute 8.33 seconds |
| 2nd | Velvet Haze | ||
| 3rd | Party Spirit | ||
| 2023 Magic Millions Country Cup |
1st | Ezekeil | 1 minute 10.38 seconds |
| 2nd | Situation Room | ||
| 3rd | King Gutho | ||
| 2022 Magic Millions Country Cup |
1st | Sir Rocket | 1 minute 11.99 seconds |
| 2nd | Star Of O’Reilly | ||
| 3rd | Vinasta | ||
| 2021 Magic Millions Country Cup |
1st | Animate | 1 minute 10.11 seconds |
| 2nd | Katy’s Daughter | ||
| 3rd | Penasquito | ||
| 2020 Magic Millions Country Cup |
1st | Clockwise | 1 minute 9.06 seconds |
| 2nd | Secret Spirit | ||
| 3rd | Excelebrazione | ||
| 2019 Magic Millions Country Cup |
1st | Mr Markou | 1 minute 08.82 seconds |
| 2nd | Reckless Choice | ||
| 3rd | Stanley Park | ||
| 2018 Magic Millions Country Cup |
1st | Zafina | 1 minute 9.40 seconds |
| 2nd | Suggan Buggan | ||
| 3rd | He’s A Moral | ||
| 2017 Magic Millions Country Cup |
1st | Irish Constabulary | 1 minute 9.36 seconds |
| 2nd | Lomazzo | ||
| 3rd | Upstart | ||
| 2016 Magic Millions Country Cup |
1st | War Jet | 1 minute 8.91 seconds |
| 2nd | Three Sheets | ||
| 3rd | Star Wars | ||
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