Gai Waterhouse has laid claims to a fourth Magic Million Classic (1200m) after a one-two finish in the W F Club Returns (2YO, 1000m) at Warwick Farm today.
First starters No Looking Back and Blazing Snitzel made advances to the $2m Gold Coast feature on January 14 with impressive debuts.
If ever a horse is bred to win the MM, it is the winner No Looking Back.
She was a $500,000 purchase in the 2011 January Gold Coast sale and is by Redoute’s Choice from Mirror Mirror.
Mirror Mirror won the 2006 MM Classic for Clarry Conners coming from near the tail to win.
She only raced once after that due to injury and after a few failed attempts to get back to the track, she went to stud.
Owned by former Magic Million proprietor John Singleton, Mirror Mirror looks set for a bright future as a broodmare.
No Looking Back is her first foal and being by Australia’s leading sire. it should hold the filly in good stead.
She is owned in similar interests to 2008 Golden Slipper winner Sebring and 2010 Caulfield Cup winner Descarado, the Henderson family at the Gold Coast.
No Looking Back dwarfed most of today’s field and won fair and square after drawing widest in barrier 10.
Jockey Hugh Bowman worked her across to be second following the lead of Christian Reith on Benedictus who led from barrier 9.
Blazing Snitzel from barrier two settled third on the fence.
No Looking Back wobbled on the home turn giving Blazing Snitzel the gap to go through.
Nash Rawiller obliged and joined the other two but when Bowman put the foot on the pedal the race was over.
Blazing Snitzel held on for second with Star Pass running on well for third.
“”There was no looking back was there,” Waterhouse said.
“She’s most impressive, I thought both fillies ran enormous races.
“They both head onto Magic Millions.”
Waterhouse may give No Looking Back a short break before the MM.
Bowman was suitably impressed.
“She jumped well, got into stride well, but I didn’t want to drive her mad so when Christian made the move to go forward it worked out very well for me,” Bowman said.
“Funny enough, leading with her Sydney leg, she wasn’t comfortable and gave Nash that little sniff and he gave me a push out.
Blazing Snitzel by Snitzel and Trois Couleurs (Carnegie) was a $260,000 purchase at the same sale.
She is a half sister to Excuse My French, a dual Listed race winner in Tasmania.
Waterhouse has won the Magic Millions Classic with Assertive Lad (2000), Excellerator (2001) and Dance Hero (2004).
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | NO LOOKING BACK | Gai Waterhouse | Hugh Bowman | 10 | 57kg | $2.40F | |
| 2 | 2 | BLAZING SNITZEL | Gai Waterhouse | Nash Rawiller | 0.8L | 2 | 57kg | $8 |
| 3 | 8 | STAR PASS | Gerald Ryan | Josh Adams (a1.5) | 3.1L | 5 | 57kg (cd 55.5kg) | $8 |
| 4 | 9 | ZINEDINE | Mark Wallace | Adam Hyeronimus (a3) | 4.3L | 7 | 57kg (cd 54kg) | $41 |
| 5 | 4 | GOLD BENDER | Mark de Montfort | Ms Lauri Wray (a3) | 4.6L | 6 | 57kg (cd 54kg) | $17 |
| 6 | 1 | BENEDICTUS | Peter Snowden | Christian Reith | 5.5L | 9 | 57kg | $6 |
| 7 | 10 | DIAMOND PLAYER | Anthony Cummings | Jason Collins (a3) | 6.5L | 8 | 55.5kg (cd 52.5kg) | $26 |
| 8 | 5 | INFINITE FORTUNE | David Hayes | Brenton Avdulla | 8.6L | 4 | 57kg | $21 |
| 9 | 3 | CATSEYE SURPRISE | Terry Croft | Rod Quinn | 8.9L | 3 | 57kg | $31 |
| 10 | 7 | RECESS | Clarry Conners | Corey Brown | 19.5L | 1 | 57kg | $6.50 |
