Spirit Of Boom confirmed his love for the Gold Coast when winning his biggest race, the $400,000 Magic Million Cup (1400m) today.
The Toowoomba trained galloper, appreciating dry ground, scored his fourth win in eight starts at the track.
The entire by Sequalo from Temple Spirit took his overall record to six wins in 23 start with prizemoney approaching $700,000.
The four-year-old had repeated his winning style in the Listed Goldmarket Hcp (1300m) at the Gold Coast just 12 days earlier.
In both victories jockey Ric McMahon sat quietly and produced a late burst to win.
For McMahon, success or failure was determined by inches.
Startsmeup worked hard for the first 400m to take the lead under Damien Browne.
Once Browne got there, he slowed the pace ahead of Mr Unforgettable.
Geared Up, Excellentes and race favourite Catapulted were in immediate pursuit.
Latin News settled three wide on the back of Catapulted who had no cover.
Spirit of Boom was smothered fourth last on the fence.
McMahon edged wider rounding the turn but was behind a wall of horses.
Startsmeup and Mr Unforgettable shook off those around at the 300m as McMahon took a narrow opening inside three other horses back in the field.
Both Latin News and Spirit Of Boom joined Startsmeup at the 100m while Mr Unforgettable battled.
The run of Latin News ended 50m out with Spirit Of Boom taking the courageous Startsmeup in the final 50m.
Steel Zip ran on well for fourth but never looked a winning threat.
Tony Gollan, one of Queensland’s most promising young trainers , puts the polish of both the winner and half brother Temple Of Boom.
“I had a lot of nervous moments in the run but when he got clear he put them away quickly,” Gollan said.
“We had him ridden off the pace in the winter but he hates rain affected tracks.
“We tinkered with his gear but a good track today made the difference.
“His last win was good but this was even better.
“He has a great turn of foot but has always been plagued with wet tracks.
“Temple (of Boom) loves wet tracks, we are just rapt today.
“He will definitely be aimed for the Melbourne spring carnival but how he gets there I am not too sure.
“He will go for a break now but for how long?
“We will have to sit down and think about it.”
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | SPIRIT OF BOOM | Tony Gollan | Ric McMahon | 7 | 55kg | $7 | |
| 2 | 6 | STARTSMEUP | Gillian Heinrich | Damian Browne | 0.5L | 10 | 55.5kg | $7 |
| 3 | 5 | LATIN NEWS | David Payne | Corey Brown | 0.8L | 3 | 55.5kg | $9 |
| 4 | 13 | STEEL ZIP | Pat Duff | Jason Taylor | 1.6L | 8 | 54kg | $16 |
| 5 | 3 | MR UNFORGETTABLE | Kevin Moses | Jim Cassidy | 1.8L | 11 | 56kg | $17 |
| 6 | 7 | MY DESTINY | Con Karakatsanis | Jay Ford | 1.9L | 1 | 55kg | $4.60 |
| 7 | 9 | TOP DROP | Gerald Ryan | Glyn Schofield | 2.7L | 13 | 54.5kg | $26 |
| 8 | 12 | READY TO RIP | Andrew Williamson | Craig Williams | 2.8L | 9 | 54kg | $6 |
| 9 | 11 | EXCELLANTES | Robert Heathcote | Jim Byrne | 3.2L | 6 | 54kg | $15 |
| 10 | 4 | ADNOCON | Gerald Ryan | Brenton Avdulla | 3.4L | 12 | 55.5kg | $21 |
| 11 | 2 | HERE DE ANGELS | Wendy Roche | Robert Thompson | 4.7L | 4 | 56.5kg | $61 |
| 12 | 1 | CATAPULTED | Mark Kavanagh | Michael Rodd | 9.2L | 2 | 60kg | $3.40F |
| 13 | 10 | GEARED UP | Gary Duncan | Dean Tanti | 11.2L | 5 | 54kg | $31 |
| 14 | INTERVIEW | John P Thompson | scr | 0 |
