The build up to January's The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival is in full swing with today's announcement of the first confirmed runner being locked in for the $3 million TAB Magic Millions Sunlight (1100m) on Saturday January 4
Arabian Summer has been a great earner for connections - image Grant Courtney
The new feature slot race, for three-year-olds over 1100 metres, will be one of the highlights of the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival on a scintillating twilight ten-race card worth $6.05 million on January 4 at the Gold Coast Turf Club.
Star Victorian filly Arabian Summer, a member of the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable, has been secured to run in the Widden Stud and RMA Bloodstock slot in the TAB Magic Millions Sunlight.
From just six lifetime starts Arabian Summer has already swept two Magic Millions features - the 2YO Classic at Ballarat and the $1 million National 2YO Classic at Doomben - the latter coming at her most recent start.
A $220,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale Book 2 purchase for McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency from the draft of Coolmore Stud, Arabian Summer has already earned connections $943,600 during her short career to date.
"With our close association with Tony and Calvin McEvoy through Sunlight, we are honoured to announce Arabian Summer will be running in our slot," Widden's Antony Thompson said.
"We are also very good friends with a number of the filly's owners including Frank and Christine Cook, whose colours she runs in, so we are very pleased to have shaken hands on a joint venture."
"We're excited for January 2025 with our draft of Widden yearlings set for the Gold Coast and excited for the inaugural running of the TAB Magic Millions Sunlight," Thompson added.
Arabian Summer is the first confirmed runner for one of twelve slot holders in the new $3 million TAB Magic Millions Sunlight slot race, to be run under set weight conditions for all three-year-olds.
The Saturday January 4 meeting, which will witness the main events run under lights, will also include six races for horses nominated to the Magic Millions Race Series including the $1 million The Syndicate and the $500,000 The Wave.
The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday will be held at the same track a week later and feature another 10 races with prizemoney and bonuses totalling $14.5 million. The program of Magic Millions races for the current season can be viewed here
