2024 Magic Millions Day Preview 

The Queensland Summer Racing Carnival reaches a crescendo this Saturday at the Gold Coast Turf Club with the running of the 2024 Magic Millions Raceday.   

With $14.25 million in prize money and bonuses across a monster 11-race card, it is easy to see why this meeting is the jewel in Queensland Racing’s crown and why it captures the attention of the racing public all over the world.  

Highlights include the Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic and the Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas where a massive $3 million is on offer in each race.

We’ve cast our eye over the meeting and provided our best bets in each race below. 

Party Spirit (15) has come back this preparation an improved horse, winning all three of her races.  

The Rob Heathcote-trained mare broke through for her first career win when resuming at the Sunshine Coast over 1000m before returning to that track and winning a Class 1 Handicap. 

Last start she successfully stepped up to Open company when running on strongly to win the Warwick qualifying race of this series over 1200m.  

Damien Thornton, who was aboard that day and retains the ride, should be able to settle in a prominent position. 

1 Unit – Party Spirit (15)  

Too Darn Lizzie (9) looks a typical jump and run two-year-old filly from the Waterhouse and Bott stable. 

The daughter of Too Darn Hot impressed when going to the front in an 813m Warwick Farm trial and dashing clear to win by 4.25 lengths in quick time. 

Noted front running jockey Tim Clark, who was aboard in the trial, has been booked to ride and I’d say he’ll take the filly straight to the front and try to steal the win in The Debut plate for fillies. 

1 Unit – Too Darn Lizzie (9) 

Barracuda (2) ventures north for his first start on the back of a solid Rosehill trial over 900m. 

The Waterhouse and Bott-trained Trapeze Artist colt led before being run down late by Wyong Magic Million 2YO Classic winner Highness. 

With Highness being a leading chance in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, that trial looks to be an excellent way to prepare for this contest. 

In a positive push, the stable has booked leading jockey James McDonald for The Debut 2YO Colts & Geldings Plate. 

1 Unit – Barracuda (2) 

Rothfire (1) once again draws horrendously in the Magic Millions QTIS Open which must have his trainer Rob Heathcote scratching his head to work out who he has offended. 

However, ‘The Thrilla From Chinchilla’ has proven that he can overcome car park draws time and time again. 

Last start he made short work of the outside barrier in the King Of The Mountain at Toowoomba when winning by a neck.  

He was a month between runs so will strip fitter and the slight rise in trip will suit. 

1 Unit – Rothfire (1) 

Zennzella (3) has come back this preparation in cracking form. 

The Maher and Eustace-trained Snitzel mare found the line with gusto when resuming for a neck third over 1600m at Caulfield.  

Last start she circled the field on the turn before letting down strongly to win over 1700m at Caulfield by a neck. 

She’ll strip fitter and won the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes when stepping up to 2000m third-up two preparations ago.  

Any moisture in the track will be to her benefit in this year’s Magic Millions Subzero.

1 Unit – Zennzella (3) 

Bezique (12) has been low flying this preparation and is looking for four wins in a row. 

The Tony Gollan-trained four-year-old mare kicked off this campaign with a dominant three-length win on a heavy Doomben track over 1050m. 

She proved too classy second-up when comfortably winning over 1200m at Doomben before leading from start to finish at Eagle Farm last start. 

The Magic Millions Syndicate is her toughest test to date but the Black Soil Bloodstock-owned daughter of Spirit Of Boom has never raced better and draws to get a great run for Ben Thompson. 

1 Unit Each Way – Bezique (12) 

King Of Sparta (3) loves the Gold Coast and returns to the Glitter Strip looking to keep his unbeaten record at the track intact in the Magic Millions Snippets.

Two years ago the son of I Am Invincible won the 3YO Guineas here and returned last year to win this race. 

The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained gelding was last seen hitting the line hard to finish second in The Hunter in November. 

He races well fresh and tuned up for this with a nice piece of work in a Rosehill trial. 

James McDonald takes the ride and can settle just behind what looks a genuine tempo. 

2 Units – King Of Sparta (3)  

Spywire (2) gave them a galloping lesson on debut at Rosehill over 1100m.   

The Maher and Eustace-trained Trapeze Artist colt was highly impressive, jumping straight to the front and dashing clear to win comfortably by 2.3 lengths with a further four lengths back to third.   

Two starts back he looked the winner in the Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic but was nailed on the line.  

Stewards questioned the ride, and the horse also was found to be lame and suffering mild heat stress so there were excuses for being beaten as a short-priced favourite.   

He bounced back in a big way last start over 1100m here in the Gold Nugget when leading all the way for a dominant 2.3 length win.  

He’s rock hard fit so James McDonald will be able to go forward and run them into the ground and deliver the second Magic Millions 2YO Classic title in the past three years for the trainer/jockey combination. 

1 Unit – Spywire (2) 

Chrysaor (2) was unlucky not to win the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate when resuming at Doomben last start.  

The Chris Waller-trained Better Than Ready colt found the line strongly and looked the winner but was swamped on the outside by the fitter Cifrado to finish second by half a length. 

Chrysaor can turn the tables given he will strip fitter second-up. 

During the Winter Carnival, Chrysaor probably should have beaten Cifrado when second-up in the BRC Sires’ Produce if Nash Rawiller had taken the gap before Cifrado. 

James McDonald can settle handy and if he gets clear air in the straight, he can prove hard to hold out. 

1 Unit – Chrysaor (2)  

Far Too Easy (2) could not have been more impressive when resuming with a win in the Lough Neagh Stakes at Eagle Farm over 1400m. 

The David McColm-trained son of All Too Hard settled back after drawing wide and then came with a powerful burst to put his rivals away quickly for a 4.5 length win. 

Wide barriers have been a staple of his career so while it’s not ideal that he is in the car park, he can overcome it. 

He’s won two of three at the track and has won three of four races second-up.  

1 Unit – Far Too Easy (2)  

Lady Laguna (3) has returned to the form that saw her win the Mick Dittman Plate during the Winter Carnival. 

The Annabel Neasham-trained four-year-old mare fought bravely when finishing second to the speedy Brudenell over 1100m at Randwick first-up. 

She then came north last start and found the line powerfully along the fence to win the Nudgee Stakes over 1200m at Doomben. 

This is the first time that she’s faced 1300m but given the way she ran through the line last start she’ll handle it well.  

She loves the sting out of the track and James McDonald can land in a forward position in the Magic Millions Fillies & Mares.

1 Unit – Lady Laguna (3)