Spicer Thoroughbreds Win $1million Magic Mares with Choisir's Snapdancer

Media Release - Saturday January 15

Classy mare Snapdancer atoned for an unlucky placing in last year’s TAB Magic Millions Fillies and Mares (1300m) with a dominant victory in Saturday’s edition of the $1 million feature race at the Gold Coast.

Advertisement
Snapdancer wins the $1million MM Mares - image Grant Courtney
 
It was an easy watch for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, as well as a massive group of owners involved in the daughter of Choisir via Spicer Thoroughbreds, with jockey James McDonald beginning well and able to assume a position outside the leader.

Snapdancer matched motors with the leader Vulpine as she quickened inside the final 400m but by the time the field passed the 100m post, the race was over with the five-year-old careering away for a near two-length win.
Maher said his stable had put a long-range plan in place to win the race and the last piece of the puzzle fell into place when he convinced McDonald to take the ride on the mare.

“She was very unlucky in this race last year and the boys were a little bit disappointed to it was a real target this year,” Maher said.

“We gave her a light spring and especially targeted her here.

“I asked JMac (James McDonald) to ride her and I think he might have been thinking of another one and I told him to have a look at her run last year and he first up run.

“That was enough for him to come across and jump on her.

“She can be a bit tardy away and I told him that’s where he would win it or lose it and he got a beautiful start and it was an easy watch from there.

“There’s a big team in her, Brad Spicer and the crew, so it’s fantastic.”

McDonald said he was confident of victory after Snapdancer left the barriers cleanly.

“She jumped really well and the race was all over,” McDonald said.
It was a big pay day for Snapdancer!

Presented as part of the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2018 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Snapdancer attracted a winning bid of $180,000 by Victorian syndicator Brad Spicer.

Saturday’s win – Snapdancer’s fifth career victory – took the mare’s stake earnings beyond $930,000.
 
Maher and Eustace have been the most active buyer across the first four days of the 2022 Gold Coast Yearling Sale with more than 40 purchases, including a $1.7 million Not A Single Doubt colt (Lot 261) and a $1.5 million Pierro colt (Lot 419).

Sledmere Stud’s highlight in recent days came via the sale of a Zoustar colt (Lot 375) from their draft, that was purchased for $1.3 million by the Victorian Alliance, in partnership with Suman Hedge and David Redvers. 
Advertisment

Race Result - $1m Tab Magic Millions F&M 1300m

Gold Coast Track: Good(3) Time: 1:15.14
1
Snapdancer
- 5m Choisir (AUS) x Snapdragon (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55.5
2
1.8
Vulpine
- 5m Snitzel (AUS) x Elusive Leone (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: R Wiggins 57.5
3
2.3
Kiku
- 4m Zoustar (AUS) x Atotori (AUS) (Haradasun (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: N Rawiller 57.5
4
2.5
Brookspire
- 4m Hinchinbrook (AUS) x Be Inspired (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55.5
5
2.9
Krone
- 6m Eurozone (AUS) x Soft Landing (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Tim Clark 59.5
6
3.1
Salateen
- 4m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Salma (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Ryan Maloney 56.5
7
3.3
Incredulous Dream
- 4m Press Statement (AUS) x Incredulous (AUS) (Keep The Faith (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Tommy Berry 56.5
8
3.5
Van Giz
- 5m Written Tycoon (AUS) x Witwatersrand (IRE) (Unfuwain (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: J R Collett 55.5
9
3.8
Georgie's Pride
- 4m Better Than Ready (AUS) x She Can Command (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: Desleigh Forster Rdr: J Byrne 55.5
10
4.0
She Can Sing
- 4m Your Song (AUS) x Streaking Comet (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Costa Rdr: Ben Thompson 55.5
11
4.8
Lady Of Luxury
- 4m Criterion (NZ) x Miss Beauty World (AUS) (God's Own (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Craig Williams 55.5
12
8.1
Beachbreak
- 5m Sebring (AUS) x Oakleigh Girl (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: R Fradd 55.5
13
12.1
Standoff
- 4m Smart Missile (AUS) x Fidele (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Grant & Peter Dalziel Rdr: B Prebble 55.5
More Reading...
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
Sires With Winners - Sunday July 27
Here is the full list of 54 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
New G1 Winner for Too Darn Hot
Fresh from siring two new stakes-winners in Europe on Saturday Too Darn Hot (GB) kept the momentum going on Sunday with a new Group I winner and Tornado Alert is a half-brother to Just Fine (IRE), winner of the Group I ATC The Metropolitan in 2023.
One to Watch - Belmont
Racing made a welcome return to Belmont Park yesterday and the first winner to salute on the freshly renovated track was a two year-old that started a red hot favourite and could not have been more impressive!
2026 Inglis Yearling Sale Series Entries Open
Entries for the 2026 Inglis Select Yearling Sales Series – which will be headlined by the presence of the highly anticipated Snitzel x Winx colt at the Easter Sale – are now open.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Zousain Sunday 2YO Double
Zousain is surging to the end of the season with a double of new 2YO winners on Sunday bringing his seasonal tally of juvenile winners to 13.
Zoustar Filly Wander Dune Impresses On Debut In South Africa
Making her debut as favourite in the Race Coast Maiden Juvenile Plate (1200m) at Kenilworth, South Africa on Saturday, 2yo Australian-bred Zoustar filly Wander Dune impressed with an emphatic victory.
Two New SW's for Too Darn Hot
Too Darn Hot is set to be crowned Champion Australian Second Season Sire and is headed back to Darley Australia this spring at a fee of $275,000 and overnight he produced two new stakes-winners in the UK and Ireland.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 25
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.