Luke Currie’s love affair with Magic Millions Raceday on the Gold Coast continued on Saturday thanks to a dominant victory aboard Etana in the $250,000 Frizelle Sunshine Magic Millions Open Quality Handicap (1800m).
Currie, who won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic aboard Sunlight in 2018, steered the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Group 2 winner to a two-and-a-half length win over Reckless Choice and Testashadow.
Shamus Award's Etana streaks clear in the Magic Millions Open Quality Handicap - image Racing Queensland
A $400,000 purchase by Maher and Dermot Farrington Bloodstock out of the Willow Park Stud draft at the 2017 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Etana has now won five races and almost $370,000.
Currie said the sacrifices he made to take several key rides at 54kg on Saturday, including Etana, were worth it.
"I’ve got a couple of nice rides at 54kg so it’s definitely worth it," Currie said.
"She was stiff not to win last time, she just got held up a vital stage but she always kept coming, and it was a good effort today."
"I did know that it (Reckless Choice) had missed it (the start), I wasn’t sure how far and I thought if it wasn’t too bad it might have been able to latch onto my back."
"The speed was on so it gave everything it’s chance."
Maher, who been in the thick of the action on the first three days of this year's Magic Millions Yearling Sale, said he was delighted to see Etana atone with a win after a luckless run in the The Wave (1800m) last Saturday.
"It was a pretty easy watch, wasn’t it," Maher said.
"Luke controlled the race from when he wanted to roll into the race and put the pressure on."
"She just didn’t get the nicest run last week, we’d always planned to bring her here for these two races so it’s nice to get one of them."
"We’ll probably target some better races during the winter carnival up here again."
