Vinery stallions More than Ready and Mossman rounded off a winning afternoon for favourites when Midnight At Ascot and Ready To Rip were successful in the final two events at the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast.
Earlier in the day, Temple Of Boom (MM Sprint) and Karuta Queen (MM 2YO Classic) kept punters on the front foot and the Vinery victories were both bad results for bookmakers.
Midnight At Ascot (4g Mossman – Time For Bed by Night Shift) won the $100,000 Marriott Magic Millions Country Cup (1400m) and then had to survive a protest from runner-up Golden Kid. He is trained at Newcastle by Darren Smith for Dynamic Syndications.
“Winning on a big day like this is just fantastic,” Dynamic manager Dean Watt beamed. “The Country Cup is as good as the Cox Plate or the Golden Slipper for the owners. They live the dream and put their hard earned in each week.”
Midnight at Ascot was a $55,000 buy from Baramul Stud at the 2008 Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling sale. His dam Time For Bed has also thrown the winners Bedclothes (Jade Robbery), Bedtime Secrets (Secret Savings), Bugyeong Choegang (Flying Spur), Gangitano (Encosta de Lago) and Market On Open (More Than Ready). She has a 2yo filly and a yearling colt by Testa Rossa.
Second dam Dinky Flyer (Balmerino) was a G1 winner of the 1987 AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.
Ready to Rip confirmed his status as one of Queensland’s most progressive gallopers when he flew home to win the $100,000 Sky Racing Magic Millions Handicap (1200m).
Ready to Rip (3g More Than Ready – Lady Langham by Danehill) collared Easy Rocker to score by a half head in a thrilling conclusion to the Magic Millions raceday. It was ample compensation for connections after the gelding had been balloted out of the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.
“It’s hard to say what might have happened in the Guineas,” trainer Andrew Williamson said. “But we got something and that’s the main thing.
“Damian Browne rides all his work and has a really big wrap on the horse. He wasn’t a big yearling at the sales but has really developed into a lovely type.”
Ready to Rip was a $55,000 buy from Baramul Stud at the 2009 Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling sale and has already earned over $100,000.
Ready to Rip is a half brother to five winners including the Caulfield stakes performer Sir Lago. His dam Lady Langham is a sister to the dam of WA star Elliotto and a half sister to the dam of Brisbane stakes winner Kenconcarne.