Compared with other feature or black type racing in Australia The Magic Millions 2 Year Old Classic is a relatively juvenile horse race that was first run in 1987.
The Magic Millions 2YO Classic is one of two feature races of the Magic Millions Carnival held in January of each year.
Magic Millions 2YO Classic Race Details
Date: 13-1-24
Time: TBA
Racecourse: Gold Coast
Race Distance: 1200m
Conditions: TBA
Prize Money: $2,000,000
How To Bet On The Magic Millions 2YO Classic
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When Is The Magic Millions 2YO Classic: 13-1-24
What Time Is The Magic Millions 2YO Classic: TBA
Where Is The Magic Millions 2YO Classic: Gold Coast Racecourse
How To Live Stream The Magic Millions 2YO Classic
To live stream the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, TAB Account Holders can watch the race live.
More Details About The Magic Millions 2YO Classic
The race itself has always been run over 1200m and been graded as a Listed race through it’s history however given the year on year increase in interest and growing prize money there is every chance this could be upgraded in the coming years. Prize money for the event is worth $2,000,000
History Of The Magic Millions Two Year Old Classic
The Magic Millions 2YO Classic along with the Magic Millions Guineas are the feature races that crown a week long event for the Magic Millions Company in the Gold Coast.
The Classic was introduced in 1987 as a way to showcase the talent that had been purchased at the yearling sales in the year prior. As the title suggests the race has always been held to showcase specifically two year old talent that had been bought at a Magic Millions sale. Horses purchased outside of these sales are not permitted to enter the race.
Conditions for the race have always been very consistent with the event held at set weights. However in 1988 a decision was made to split fillies, colts & geldings but later shifted back to its original mixed racing in 1991 as part of a revamped carnival.
In 2017 the carnival saw a significant upgrade when Magic Millions and Racing Queensland introduced a revamped Queensland Summer Carnival that provided a boost to prize money available for races.
As such the Magic Millions Classic increased its potential prize pool up to $2,000,000 for entrants, double the one million previously available. With the financial increase as a whole the one day of racing saw its total prize money increased to $10,000,000, at the time making it the richest race day in Australia.
The Classic is considered one of 3 multi million dollar races for 2YO’s in the Australian Thoroughbred Calendar along with the Blue Diamond Stakes held at Caulfield Racecourse and the Golden Slipper held at Rosehill.
There have been three winners that have won both the Golden Slipper and the Magic Millions Classic with Capitalist in 2016 being the most recent.
Race Venue For The Magic Millions 2YO Classic
The Classic is held as part of the Magic Millions Carnival held over two weekends at the Gold Coast Turf Club in the Gold Coast Queensland.
Racing began in the region in the late 1890s with a formal venue being established in 1946 with grandstand and dirt track racing and betting facilities.
It wasn’t until 1986 the Magic Millions Carnival was launched at the racecourse as a flagship event for the Magic Millions Company.
Located just 5 minutes outside the Surfers Paradise holiday resort the Gold Coast Turf Club holds up to 60 race meets per year including a handful of black type racing. Although the GCTC don’t have any Group 1 racing across the year they do host the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes named after former chairman A.D. Hollindale.
Events at the Gold Coast Racecourse these days operate on a Turf track over distances between 900m and 3200m with the Bat Out Of Hell Handicap the richest shortest race in Australia.
The Gold Coast Turf Club is a great local track for those punters looking for a Metropolitan Saturday racing experience without the need to head into the capital and battle the crowds at Eagle Farm or Doomben.
Race History Of The Magic Millions 2YO Classic
The 2YO Classic may not have had a long history on the racing calendar compared with the likes of the Slipper or the Oaks and Derby but it is nonetheless packed with talented youngsters looking to make a mark on Australian Racing.
The most recent winner of the race was Away Game for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace Stable who won the 2020 running way back when crowds were allowed to attend racing.
It was an emphatic win for the 2 year old who was $3.10 favourite to win the race after finishing second in the Golden Slipper during the previous Spring.
In more recent years there has become a recognition for trainers and horses who are able to to lift both the Slipper and Magic Millions 2YO Classic with only three horses managing to complete the feat to date.
The first in 2004 was the Gai Waterhouse trained gelding Dance Hero. Possibly one of the most underrated 2 year olds at the time Dance Hero won the Magic Millions 2 year old classic beating now recognised super sire Not a Single Doubt before going on to defeat another huge name in racing, Fastnet Rock to win the Golden Slipper.
In 2008 Phelan Ready was the the next gelding to accomplish the duel Classic - Slipper victory when he won in both heavy and good conditions to take victory. An amazing achievement for the horse who retired after 59 starts with just 4 wins to his name after delivering only to more wins after his breakout year.
We don’t need to wind back the clocks to far for the most recent winner of the double with Capitalist for the Peter and Paul Snowden team winning the both in 2016. After having a 7 start career with 4 wins Capitalist was sent to stud where he stands yearly to this day.
Conclusion
The 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast is one of the great races and first chances for trainers to test there runners against the other juvenile runners heading out to compete that year.
Winners have gone on to have strong careers or fetched eye watering sums at stud.
Whatever happens at the Magic Millions Carnival in January runners will go on to compete at the highest level with all in opportunists looking to the Skyline or Champagne Stakes in Autumn before rolling back into Sydney for the Golden Slipper in the Spring.
Magic Millions 2YO Classic Past Winners
Year | Winner |
2023 | Skirt The Law |
2022 | Coolangatta |
2021 | Shaquero |
2020 | Away Game |
2019 | Exhilarates |
2018 | Sunlight |
2017 | Houtzen |
2016 | Capitalist |
2015 | Le Chef |
2014 | Unemcumbered |
2013 | Real Surreal |
2012 | Driefontein |
2011 | Karuta Queen |
2010 | Military Rose |
2009 | Phelan Ready |
2008 | Augusta Proud |
2007 | Mimi Lebrock |
2006 | Mirror Mirror |
2005 | Bradburys Luck |
2004 | Dance Hero |
2003 | Regimental Girl |
2002 | Lovely Jubly |
2001 | Excellerator |
2000 | Assertive Lad |
1999 | Testa Rossa |
1998 | Catnipped |
1997 | General Nediym |
1996 | Winger Charger |
1995 | Zephyrz |
1994 | Brave Warrior |
1993 | Our Fiction |