Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
On Monday morning, Magic Millions and Racing Queensland announced a revamped schedule for the 2024/25 Queensland Summer Racing Carnival, adding extra excitement in the lead-up to the $3 million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic on Saturday, 11 January.
The Gold Coast track successfully hosted six races on Saturday without incident. However, the Gold Coast Turf Club has advised that the course will continue to be closely managed, with Friday, 20 December’s meeting set to be a twilight event.
This Friday night meeting will host the $250,000 edition of Magic Millions The Debut, open to colts, geldings, and fillies, as the feature race of the program and is set to be the first meeting under lights.
Gold Coast Turf Club | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut should not be confused with the $500,000 version, scheduled for The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday in 2025. However, the latter race has undergone a change in conditions, now open to all first starters, rather than being divided between sexes, as was the case this year.
Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch told The Thoroughbred Report, “Fundamentally, what we've done is extend the extravaganza. We now have two epic weekends of racing (Saturday, 4 January and Saturday, 11 January).
“We'll kick off with the first, which will grow under lights (Friday, Decemeber 20). For the first time, we’ll host the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight Slot Race on Saturday, January 4, and we've also moved the $1 million TAB Magic Millions The Syndicate to that Saturday, making it something truly special to launch our Saturdays. This will lead us into the Polo, show jumping, and, most importantly, the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Barry Bowditch | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“The revamped schedule is huge, and it's going to give people a lot of confidence and excitement heading into the sale, with still $14.5 million in prizemoney to be won on the following Saturday.”
Commenting on the management of the course proper at the Gold Coast racetrack, Bowditch added, “We have a new track that’s improving after last Saturday. We can see it’s heading in the right direction, but it’s still important to take a cautious approach.
“The revamped schedule is huge, and it's going to give people a lot of confidence and excitement heading into the sale, with still $14.5 million in prizemoney to be won on the following Saturday.” - Barry Bowditch
“We're dealing with races worth a significant amount of money, and it’s our responsibility to give participants the best opportunity to race and the best service possible. Racing Queensland and the Gold Coast Turf Club made some recommendations, and I believe the revised schedule provides a great alternative to our initial proposal.
“I’m genuinely excited, and I think it will bring people to the Gold Coast earlier, getting owners more excited sooner as we build up to the racedays and the sale.”
New slot race The Sunlight, the Coolmore of the summer!
The first Saturday meeting on 4 January will feature the inaugural running of the $3 million TAB Magic Millions Sunlight Slot Race for 3-year-olds. The Sunlight Slot Race, held over 1100 metres, will comprise 12 runners, with 11 selected by slot holders.
The turbo-charged twilight meeting will also include the $250,000 Sunlight Consolation, the $1 million TAB Magic Millions The Syndicate, and the enhanced $500,000 The Wave, exclusively for Magic Millions Race Series-nominated horses in 2025. The 1800-metre weight-for-age feature is no longer age-restricted.
Further enhancements include the $250,000 Magic Millions Class 6 Plate and the $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden Plate, providing opportunities for horses across all levels and abilities.
Proud of the diversity of races on offer in the Magic Millions summer schedule, Bowditch said, “Whether it's the first Saturday or the second, I believe that whether you’ve got a 2-year-old, an older horse, a filly, or a gelding, there’s a race for your horse.
“Whether it's the first Saturday or the second, I believe that whether you’ve got a 2-year-old, an older horse, a filly, or a gelding, there’s a race for your horse.” - Barry Bowditch
“The Magic Millions Race Series is mature enough that if you’re buying a Magic Millions horse and paying for the race series, you’ve got a ticket into a really viable lottery. There are 28 races across Australia, with 20 races held within two weeks on the Gold Coast during one of Australia’s greatest carnivals.
“It’s fantastic that we can offer this opportunity to those investing in horses at our sales and give participants, syndicators, owners, and agents the confidence that when they buy a Magic Millions horse, there’s a big brand behind them and a major race series to work towards when their horse is ready to race.”
Bowditch is also thrilled with the reception of the $3 million TAB Magic Millions Sunlight Slot Race, with trainers like Tony and Calvin McEvoy considering the event as an option for their classy filly Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot {GB}). “This race is a great concept from us and Racing Queensland, offering $3 million in prizemoney.
Calvin and Tony McEvoy | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We’ve got 12 fantastic slot holders looking to lock in runners. These investors are great friends, clients, and key participants in the industry. In my opinion, it’s the Coolmore Stud Stakes of the summera race where Australia’s best 3-year-olds can compete for huge prizemoney. It’s one of the richest races for 3-year-olds in the country.
“Anyone with a horse ready for the summer should be aiming for the Gold Coast and the Sunlight. Some horses are already being prepared for the race, and whether a slot holder has a horse ready or is looking for an outside horse, conversations are already happening.
“In my opinion, it’s (the Magic Millions Sunlight Slot Race) the Coolmore Stud Stakes of the summer, a race where Australia’s best 3-year-olds can compete for huge prizemoney.” - Barry Bowditch
“That’s exactly what this race is all about, and it’s a fantastic way to kick off the carnival.”
$20 million on offer over consecutive Saturdays
Over two Saturdays, participants will have the opportunity to compete for a share of $20 million in prizemoney. The Magic Millions Summer Carnival will culminate on Saturday, January 11, with The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday, offering a total of $14.5 million.
The day will be headlined by the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and the R. Listed Magic Millions Gold Coast 3YO Guineas, both offering $3 million in prizemoney. The supporting card includes the enhanced Magic Millions Cup, which has doubled in prizemoney to $2 million, alongside the Racing Queensland Magic Millions QTIS race, which has seen a $500,000 increase to $1.5 million.
Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott stated, “The Magic Millions is the pinnacle of the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival, and it’s essential we provide certainty to participants and attendees.
Jason Scott | Image courtesy of Racing QLD
“Having adopted a cautious maintenance programme for the course proper at the Gold Coast, we want to avoid overworking the track while it is still establishing itself. We risked doing that by proceeding with three meetings within a week.
“Instead, we have chosen to bolster the final two weekends of the Summer Carnival, offering more than $20 million in prizemoney across two incredible race days.”
Gold Coast Turf Club CEO Steve Lines added, “It has certainly been a challenging time for all tracks in South East Queensland, but we are very pleased with how the course proper has improved during the cooler months, and we expect it to continue improving as we move into spring and summer.
“We have completed a series of successful gallops and barrier trials on the course proper, and the feedback from riders is that it’s a great, uniform surface that is continuously improving.
“We have completed a series of successful gallops and barrier trials on the course proper (at the Gold Coast), and the feedback from riders is that it’s a great, uniform surface that is continuously improving.” - Steve Lines
“We are really excited about the changes to the GCTC Summer Carnival, creating our biggest-ever festival of racing from December right through to late January.”
