Epaulette Mare Wins $250,000 MM Quality

Media Release - Saturday January 16

Bred by Bert Vieira and sold by Bowness Stud, improving mare Paradee gave Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Danny O’Brien his first ever win on Magic Millions Raceday at the Gold Coast with a decisive victory in Saturday’s $250,000 Magic Millions Quality (1800m).

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Paradee wins the Magic Millions Quality - image Steve Hart
 
In a repeat performance of her win in last Saturday’s $250,000 TAB Wave (1800m), the daughter of Epaulette easily defeated Bjorn Baker’s four-year-old gelding Frosty Rocks by 2.75 lengths. 

After beginning well from barrier nine, jockey Craig Williams elected to roll forward on Paradee and the pair were able to keep the pressure on leader Frosty Rocks before dashing clear at the 200m. 

O’Brien said Paradee, who was purchased by owner Robert Anderson for $240,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions Yearling Sale from te Bowness Stud draft, had thrived since traveling to Queensland. 
 
Paradee has won close to $900,000 in prizemoney.

“She won the big Wave race here last week and she came out of it super so we were happy enough to run her again,” O’Brien said.

“The weights and measures were against her today but she’s actually won by further so she’s a mare that’s in great form and she’s really thrived with the trip up here.

“We didn’t give her a hard spring, she ran four times and then she’s been down to Thirteenth Beach since then and just ticking over.

“The prizemoney up here is amazing, it’s a great carnival so we’re thrilled to be up here and thrilled to be winning.”

The victory, which was the sixth of Paradee’s 15-start career, edged the mare’s earnings from prizemoney and bonuses past $900,000.
Paradee as a yearling.

Williams was quick to credit O’Brien’s team with their management of the four-year-old. 

“Danny O’Brien and his team up here, Ben Gleeson and Tom Sadler, they were that confident with the horse and I was confident given the way that she won last week,” Williams said.

“Even though the grey horse (Frosty Rocks) met us four kilograms better and had a better draw, I was just confident of her ability and the fact that she’s got confidence.”

O’Brien has been extremely active across the first four days of the 2021 Magic Millions Yearling Sale with 16 purchases, including Lot 666, a Zoustar colt from Widden Stud’s draft for $300,000 and Lot 735, a Snitzel colt from Arrowfield Stud for $280,000. 
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Race Result - Magic Millions Qlty 1800m

Gold Coast Track: Good(4) Time: 1:49.50
1
Paradee
- 4m Epaulette (AUS) x Icy Heels (AUS) (Medaglia D'Oro (USA))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Craig Williams 57
2
2.8
So Dapper
- 5h So You Think (NZ) x Soiree Girl (AUS) (Rory's Jester (AUS))
Tnr: J G Symons & S Laxon Rdr: Ron Stewart 54
3
3.6
Wapiti
- 4g Love Conquers All (AUS) x Lucky Dubai (AUS) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: G R Duncan Rdr: R Fradd 54
4
3.8
Frosty Rocks
- 4g Your Song (AUS) x Virtual Velocity (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: N Rawiller 55
5
4.6
Willo Titto
- 5m Pierro (AUS) x Calchris (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Costa Rdr: Jag Guthmann-Chester 54
6
5.6
Reckless Choice
- 6g Choisir (AUS) x Alacer (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: S O'Dea & M Hoysted Rdr: Ben Thompson 55.5
7
6.6
Agassi
- 5g Pierro (AUS) x Halle Rocks (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Ms S Kumpikas Rdr: Taylor Marshall 54
8
6.9
Testashadow
- 9g Testa Rossa (AUS) x Moonlight Shadow (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: Ms S Thornton 54
9
7.3
Badoosh
- 4g Sebring (AUS) x Tresor (AUS) (Belong To Me (USA))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: L Currie 54
10
8.8
Itz Lily
- 5m Snitzel (AUS) x Empress Lily (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: A Mallyon 54
11
9.8
Plumaro
- 5m Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Plumage (AUS) (Red Dazzler (AUS))
Tnr: K R Kemp Rdr: B El-Issa 54
12
11.1
Profit
- 4g Dundeel (NZ) x Opportunity (NZ) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Anderson Rdr: M Mc Gillivray 54
13
12.9
Skate To Paris
- 6m Bradbury's Luck (AUS) x Paris Blu (AUS) (Murphy's Blu Boy (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: L V Cassidy 57.5
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