Godolphin Strike With First Runner in MM 2yo Classic

Mark Smith - Saturday January 12

The $2million Magic Millions 2yo Classic proved a triumph for Godolphin who made it's first foray to the Magic Millions in 2018 and came away with the winner Exhilarates.

Advertisement

Given a cold ride by Kerrin McEvoy, the James Cummings-trained filly came from the back of the field to overpower the Not A Single Doubt colt Dubious by three-quarters of a length with a half neck back to the Written Tycoon gelding Hightail in third. (photos Steve Hart ). 


The royally-bred daughter of Snitzel and the top-class Samaready clocked in as the sixth most expensive lot by her sire at last years Magic Millions but she has earned her $600,000 purchase price back with interest with two wins and two seconds from five starts netting $1,313,750.

It has been a meteoric rise for the filly who failed to beat a runner home at her first start at Rosehill back on November 10.

"This has been a tremendous effort by the whole team," Cummings told AAP.


"You are seeing a far different horse from the filly who was beaten at Rosehill at her first start.

"But that is the case with many of our young horses as we don't rush them early in the season and around Christmas, they start coming into their own."

"She got up here early and then had to win last week to get into the field.

"It was important because she got a look at the track and it helped her fitness.

"I obviously learned a lot from Bart who was a very good two-year-old trainer as well as everything else.

"But I have also learned from watching my father Anthony, Gai Waterhouse and Peter Snowden.

"We indicated we would be joining the market and we have signalled our arrival."

Bred by Vinery Stud, Exhilarates is the first named foal of Samaready whose six wins from 13 starts included the Group 1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes in 2012 and Group 1 MVRC AJ Moir Stakes the following year.


The daughter of More Than Ready (USA) has a yearling colt by All Too Hard. After slipping in 2017, Samaready was one of 206 mares to visit Yarraman Park Stud's I Am Invincible last spring.

Exhilarates broke new ground for Snitzel (photo Mark Smith) in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic.

He tasted success for the first time in the valuable race while Samaready's sire More Than Ready (USA) won the race in 2008 with Augusta Proud and with Phelan Ready the following year.

With Snitzel's son Bondi nosed out in the $2million Magic Millions Guineas, Exhilarates may have delivered the hammer blow to I Am Invincible in the race for Champion Sire.

I Am Invincible tasted success on the day with his daughter Invincibella going back to back in the $1 million MM Fillies & Mares but the gap is widening and Snitzel continues to power on with doubles at Randwick and Flemington adding up to a massive payday.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Waikato Stud Weanling Draft Showcases Super Stallions
After a phenomenal few months for Waikato Stud’s stallion roster, the world-renowned nursery will offer six select progeny of those high-flying sires at this week’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka.
Snitzel's Away Game Sizzles to Massive Payday in MM Classic
Luke Currie won a second The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) in three years when emerging filly Away Game stunned her rivals in Saturday’s $2 million contest at the Gold Coast.
$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.
Aussie Bred HK G3 Double
A pair of Group III races were run at Sha Tin on Sunday with victory in the two last stakes races of the HK season both going to Aussie bred geldings Beauty Joy and Copartner Prance, who is a half-brother to Aquis based sire Kobayashi.
Highview Makes Welcome Return to Weanling Sale
Many of the vendors at this month’s NZB National Weanling Sale are familiar faces who are renowned for their quality drafts at this sale every year, but the 2025 edition also sees an old friend being welcomed back to the fold.
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.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury
There were a whopping 10 heats won by juveniles at the Canterbury trials on Monday morning that included some interesting unraced youngsters by Zoustar, Zousain and Trapeze Artist, plus a good looking youngster that may see the benefit of gelding.
Future Looks Bright for Excess
Corumbene Stud's George Altomonte was impressed enough by Julius Sandhu's handing of Group II MRC Rubiton Stakes winner Lofty Strike to entrust the Cranbourne-based trainer with the full-sister Excess and was rewarded with a debut win at Cranbourne on Thursday.
One to Watch – Scone
Kris Lees often sends a talented horse to the country to cast off maiden status and a two year-old Exceedance gelding did just that on debut at Scone on Monday.
One to Watch – Cranbourne
Second in the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate last year to Tycoon Star, this Cosmic Force colt made light work of a maiden at Cranbourne on Sunday when bolting away to win as he pleased.