Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Thursday December 13

After buying at least one yearling just about every year since the inception of the Magic Millions, there would be few more deserving or popular winners of the Magic Millions 2yo Classic than Alan and Jennifer Acton.

The fourth-generation owners of the historic Wilpeena cattle station came closest last year when the Tony Gollan-trained Outback Barbie finished a troubled third behind Sunlight and Fullazaboot at just her second race start.

The daughter of Spirit Of Boom had opened her winning account at her race debut in the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes at Doomben.

After proving her class south of the border during the spring when placing in the Group II Percy Sykes Stakes and Group II Silver Shadow Stakes, Outback Barbie returned home to capture a Listed race at Doomben on December 1.

Advertisement

Outback Barbie will be out to parlay that victory in Saturday’s Listed Gold Edition Plate at Doomben where she takes on the undefeated Zoustyle.

But, for the Acton’s the thrill will start earlier in the day when their Snitzel filly Country Cocktail will be out to emulate Outback Barbie by winning the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes and earn a start in the $2 million Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 12.


It will be the third race start for County Cocktail who disappointed as a short-priced favourite when unplaced on a heavy track at Doomben on October 6 before finishing second behind the speedy Betaima two months later.

Bred by Nick Vaas, Country Cocktail (pictured as a yearling ) was purchased for $450,000 out of the Newgate Farm consignment at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

She is the second foal of the smart racemare Urban Groove who was herself purchased out of the same sales ring as a yearling by Gai Waterhouse for $240,000 in 2011.

Despite having a racing career restricted to three starts, there can be no denying the class of Urban Groove.

The daughter of acclaimed broodmare sire Charge Forward broke her pelvis as a two-year-old and her debut was delayed until September of her three-year-old season when she trotted up by five lengths in a maiden over 1200 metres at Kembla Grange.

A fortnight later she was backed off the map to win the Listed Reginald Allan Quality (1200m) at Rosehill and duly obliged under Tommy Berry encouraging connections to throw in an entry for the Group 1 Flight Stakes over 1600 metres at Randwick.

Sent out favourite for the third time, Urban Groove could do no better than fourth behind Norzita (Thorn Park), Longport (Casino Prince) and Dear Demi (Dehere) in what turned out to be her swansong.

The first foal of Urban Groove was the $260,000 Fastnet Rock filly Showy Zoe who has not been seen out since finishing last of seven runners at Warwick Farm back in March last year and was sold at this year’s National Broodmare Sale for $30,000.

Country Cocktail is her second live foal and she is followed by a Snitzel colt that will be consigned by Newgate Farm as Lot 258 at the upcoming Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

On October 29, Urban Groove foaled a filly by Magic Millions 2yo Classic and Golden Slipper winner Capitalist.

The dam of Urban Groove, the Sydney winning Flying Spur mare Morton, is a daughter of the pint-sized filly Heat Of The Moment (Blazing Saddles) who is best remembered for her wins in the autumn of 1986 in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes and Group 1 George Ryder Stakes before a game third behind Hula Chief and King Phoenix in the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap.

Advertisment
More Reading...
$2.2 Million Daughter of Snitzel Sets a New Mark for a Filly
Snitzel hit another home run when Arrowfield Stud’s filly from the Group 1 Willian Reid Stakes winner Silent Sedition set a new benchmark for a filly when knocked down to Hawkes Racing for $2,200,000.
Sires With Winners - Sunday October 5
Here is the full list of 47 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Man – Shinzo Rises to Golden Slipper Triumph
Widely regarded as the most open Golden Slipper for years, the $5million high octane dash at Rosehill on Saturday delivered drama and delight as champion trainer Chris Waller collected his first Golden Slipper trophy with a homebred colt for Coolmore trained to the minute.
Historic Day in Kalgoorlie - Old Meets the New
Kalgoorlie knows how to party, and on Cup day 2025 the party was big!
Surprise Bart Cummings Victory Secures Valiant King Melbourne Cup Run
It’s not often you see a runner from the Chris Waller stable go around at 50/1 odds, but 6yo gelding Valiant King (GB) produced an outstanding effort to win Saturday’s $350,000 Group 3 VRC Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington, securing himself a run in this year’s $10m Gr1 VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m).
First Stakes Horse for Home Affairs
The Group III ATC Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday attracted a strong field of talented colts from the recent official 2YO trials in Sydney and Home Affairs looks to have a quality youngster in I’m Ya Huckleberry.
Sir Delius Delivers G1 Turnbull Stakes Win
Adding Saturday’s $750,000 Group 1 VRC Turnbull Stakes (2000m) to his Group 1 MRC Underwood Stakes (1800m) victory last start, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Sir Delius further enhanced his outstanding reputation ahead of an assault on the WS Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
Two $1.4million Colts by Snitzel
Champion stallion Snitzel is rocking the Inglis sales ring.
Pedigree Watch – Juvenile Stakes-Winners
Three new season juvenile stakes races on Saturday produced a $1million yearling purchase that gave Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside the perfect start to his stud career, a pinhook winner turned stakes-winner and a colt foaled in Australia with a Kiwi pedigree.
War Machine Stakes Everest Claim - G2 Gilgai
David Hayes has a New Zealand-bred superstar heading into the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) in two weeks, where his sons Ben, Will and JD Hayes might line up against him with a Kiwi-bred Group One winner of their own.