Officials Looking For A Magic Millions Shake Up For 2YOs

Magic Millions looking for schedule shake up

The introduction of the new $500,000 Debut on Magic Millions Day is being cited as one of the main causes for dwindling 2 year old fields in Queensland with just four runners jumping in the $200k Phelan Ready at Eagle Farm on the weekend just passed. 

The Brisbane Racing Club has now called for the $500,000 Debut Races, set to take place on Magic Millions Day next month to be moved to later in the year which would stop trainers from holding back potential entrants for the race. 

The Phelan Ready was considered somewhat of a shambles on Saturday after the $1.10 favourite, Spywire was scratched from the race leaving just four runners to contest the race. 

Rush hour was the winner of the 2023 edition of The Debut. However with plans to split The Debut into two divisions, the BRC feels it further magnifies the problem.

"While the novelty of The Debut races has great merit, we flagged with Magic Millions and the thoroughbred department at Racing Queensland the likelihood of cannibalising our early season races given that two-year-olds are ineligible once they have raced," BRC Head of Racing Matt Rudolph said.

"It's a shame to see it play out as the Brisbane lead up races to Magic Millions have provided the past four winners of the race including Away Game, Coolangatta and Skirt The Law who all went in as last start winners."

The Debut has been found to have produced strong wagering numbers earlier this year however it has been at the expense of The BRC and The Phelan Ready which had a field of 7 last year and 8 in 2021.

Members of the Australian Trainers Association and The Brisbane Racing Club have floated the suggestion of running The Debut races at the start of the Brisbane Summer Carnival to create a win and you’re in result for the Magic Millions Carnival the following year. 

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