On a day when reigning champion sire I Am Invincible swept past Savabeel to reclaim his place at the top of the Australian General Sires List, six year-old gelding Vinco put the icing on the cake winning the $1million Magic Millions Cup (1425m) with four of the first five in the race also by I Am Invincible.
Vinco leads home four of the first five in this race by I Am Invincible! - image Grant Courtney
Tony Gollan put an exclamation mark on what may well go down as the most memorable day of his decorated training career when Vinco saluted.
Vinco registered the most lucrative win of his career when he denied favourite Oscar Zulu in the 1425-metre event that rounded out the Magic Millions Raceday.
It was the second win of the day for Queensland’s leading trainer, who three hours earlier saw his Better Than Ready filly Skirt The Law maintain her unbeaten record in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
“It’s been amazing day,” Gollan said. “The filly was unbelievable early and to have that sort of thrill early in the day makes it hard to keep things rolling.
“It’s a great finish to a brilliant day.”
Vinco brought up his 10th win at start No 43 when he scooted home along the inside under the urgings of Ben Thompson to score.
The $21 chance scored by three-quarters-of-a-length from $3.60 favourite Oscar Zulu with Holyfield ($7) just a long-head away third.
A $400,000 purchase out of the Yarraman Park draft at the 2018 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Vinco had his first 12 starts for the McEvoy stable before joining Gollan in early 2020.
Vinco earns the biggest cheque of his career - image Grant Courtney
His biggest win before Thursday’s success was last year’s Listed Spear Chief (1500m) at Eagle Farm.
“He was our roughest runner of the whole day, Vinco, and I was concerned when the track was earlier in the week,” Gollan said.
“In the run we were never going to be confident on him because he’s a really hard horse to ride and Ben knows him well.
“He keeps at him and at him and he dared to go on the inside where no one dared to go.”
It was an emotional victory for Thompson, who was narrowly beaten aboard Yellow Brick in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas earlier in the day.
“He went so good, Yellow Brick but unfortunately he found one better today,” Thompson said.
“It’s obviously bittersweet because I’d ridden Fashion Legend at his last two starts and I was only wrong but a neck, but that’s all it took.
“But, to ride a winner is hard enough and I’m fortunate to get a winner today (because) they’re not easy to come by.
“A huge thank you to Tony Gollan. He’s a great supporter of mine and just to get a winner on these big days when the best riders in the land are in town is great.”
Vinco was bred by Yarraman Park and is a half-brother to Group II placed Berimbau, the dam of triple Group I winning NZ trained mare Imperatriz, who is also by I Am Invincible.
Vinco is the last foal from winning Encosta de Lago mare Percussive, who died in 2016.
Vinco was the third Magic Millions winner of the day bred and sold by Yarraman Park joining King of Sparta and Centrefire.
