It was the longest race of the day but it was the barest of margins that split Tumultuous and Sedanzer in the finish of Saturday's $1 million Sky Thoroughbred Central Magic Millions Trophy (2200m).
In a thrilling drive to the line, it was Brenton Avdulla and Chris Waller that came out on top with $350,000 purchase Tumultuous becoming the most expensive yearling to ever win on Magic Millions Raceday. (photo Magic Millions)
Waller, whose superstar mare Winx was famously purchased at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2013, praised the ride of Avdulla, who settled the son of Fastnet Rock near the rear of the field before weaving a passage to victory in the final 300m.
As a three-year-old, Tumultuous contested the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and Victoria Derby (2500m) and his trainer is optimistic he can continue to furnish into a quality stayer having now taken his earnings past $700,000.
"We had early aspirations of him being a Derby horse but that didn't work out, so this is just as good, a million dollar race," Waller said.
"Brenton Avdulla has done a good job because the horse was drawn very wide and he had to go back and conserve some energy to avoid being caught off the track.
"He saved ground coming through them and he got an uninterrupted run which is what you need to win races like this."
A thrilled Avdulla said the progressive four-year-old would have posted a more decisive win over his Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained rival had he not showed his immaturity in the final furlong of the race.
"I rode this horse quiet, he's obviously got good ability but he's got a mind of his own and I think everyone probably saw it there at the 50m because he was probably going to win on his ear but he had a bit of a stargaze," Avdulla said.
"I'm just rapt to get a win in another million dollar race."
Tumultuous, like Winx, was selected for connections by leading bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster.
