Today the action of the 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Race Day kicked off after a delayed start with the $82,000 Magic Millions Maiden Plate (1200m) where Stratford claimed victory.
The Hawkes-trained Stratum gelding Stratford paid a juicy $7 to win through Luxbet.
Stratford dashed up through the middle of the field on the home straight and opened it up to finish a good margin ahead of the favourite Shezamyth ($5 Luxbet), while $18 roughie Colourado came in a game third.
In some early Magic Millions Race Day dramas, jockey Glen Colless was thrown from #5 Sequano heading into the barriers.
Sequano was the big drifter in the betting, the original $4.40 favourite moving out to $9 before the race.
Colless was still able to take the mount and Sequano got away well from the barriers as did eventual winner Stratford.
Vaarwel on the inside was first from the gates and took the early lead before fading to finish last.
Speeding To Win was fast on the outside and at the 200m raced up to leaders, holding on to finishing fourth.
Stratford has now won one of their three career starts, today’s prize money boosting their winnings to over $60,000.
The next race on the Magic Millions Race card is the $164,000 Fillies & Mares Handicap (1300m), check out our exclusive tips on the Gold Coast Magic Millions Race 2 and then head over to Luxbet to back our selections at the best odds in Australia!
2011 Magic Millions Maiden Plate Finishing Order
| HORSE | JOCKEY | PLACING | STARTIN PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| STRATFORD | JASON TAYLOR | 1st | $7 |
| SHEZAMYTH | GLYN SCHOFIELD | 2nd | $4.80F |
| COLOURADO | MICHAEL RODD | 3rd | $18 |
| SPEEDING TO WIN | GLEN BOSS | 4th | $8 |
| PRODUCT | COREY BROWN | 5th | $10 |
| DEEMED | HUGH BOWMAN | 6th | $14 |
| STEALING KISSES | BOBBY EL-ISSA | 7th | $51 |
| TIYATRO | CRAIG WILLIAMS | 8th | $31 |
| HIDDEN BABE | LARRY CASSIDY | 9th | $31 |
| NO CHOICE | CHRIS MUNCE | 10th | $8 |
| BELLA HERITAGE | JOE BOWDITCH | 11th | $151 |
| SEQUANO | GLEN COLLESS | 12th | $9 |
| GENEVA GOLD | PAUL HAMMERSLEY | 13th | $26 |
| SHADY DEAL | MICHAEL CAHILL | 14th | $51 |
| PASADA | MICHAEL HELLYER | 15th | $101 |
| VAARWEL | JIM BYRNE | 16th | $7.50 |
| IACOCCA | Scratched | ||
| BOSSBOSS | Scratched | ||
| TEZUMA | Scratched | ||
| AUTHORITATIVE | Scratched | ||
| COMMANDING LASS | Scratched |
