In the biggest thrill of his training career the Eagle Farm-based Peter Hulbert was emotional after today’s Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Handicap 2015 having watched his smart mare Endless Shadow score an upset in the lucrative feature on the Gold Coast.
Endless Shadow scored an upset 2015 Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Handicap Result on the Gold Coast. Photo: Steve Hart.
Having her 43rd career start the six-year-old daughter of Dane Shadow took her career earnings up over $270,000 today after running down the favourite Champagne Cath in the closing stages of the $200,000 R.M. Williams Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Handicap (1300m).
Chris Waller’s 59kg top weight and top fancy, Group 2 placegetter Champagne Cath was one of the best out of the barriers in today’s event going forward early along with the flying Zippity Lass.
Gillian Heinrich’s local hope Zippity Lass set the speed while Queanbeyan visitor Stolen Kisses settled into second just ahead of Champagne Cath in third.
By the straight big wig Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman had Champagne Cath coming quickly down the outside along with the eventual winner Endless Shadow, the Dane Shadow mare ridden by star local Queensland hoop Tegan Harrison.
Harrison delivered the eventual winner quite late in the race in a well-timed ride when the leaders were running out of steam.
On the line Endless Shadow ($19) drew away to win by three-quarters of a length with the returning Danny Bougoure-trained five-year-old Anna Lizzie ($17) stealing second from the third placed Champagne Cath ($3.30), only a nose further away in a photo for the minor placings, in a lucrative trifecta for those lucky enough to tip it.
“We were pretty wide the whole trip but she was dropping back in distance so she was fit enough to match up in the end,” Harrison said after the win.
Harrison was riding Endless Shadow for the first time since two luckless winter runs last year.
Before that the young jockey had had a nice association with the horse back in the spring – summer season of 2012 recording back-to-back Doomben wins on her that November when the mare was prepared by Robert Heathcote.
“I won a lot of races on the horse last time she was in Brisbane,” Harrison said.
“I got the ride on her today and I picked her out two runs ago saying she’s getting back to her best.
“It’s fantastic….great to do it on a horse I had a great association with a few years ago.”
Endless Shadow also spent time with Tony McEvoy in Adelaide after opening her career with Heathcote before returning to Brisbane with Hulbert midway through last year.
Hulbert was thrilled with the Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Handicap result for himself and the owners whose loyalty he was happy to reward today.
“Outstanding to do it on Magic Millions Day,” he said.
“So proud for the owner. He’s got a group of horses with us and he’s stuck with us.
“To do this for him today – wow!”
Simply by placing a minimum $5 bet on any Gold Coast race today you could win shares in a racehorse with Peter Moody to train the two-year-old filly – only at Ladbrokes.com.au this Magic Millions Day!
2015 Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Handicap Results & Finishing Order
Gold Coast Race 3 – 10/01/2015
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | ENDLESS SHADOW | Peter Hulbert | Tegan Harrison | – | 13 | 54kg | $19 |
| 2 | 5 | ANNA LIZZIE | Danny J Bougoure | Glen Colless | 0.8L | 16 | 56.5kg | $17 |
| 3 | 1 | CHAMPAGNE CATH | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 0.9L | 4 | 59kg | $3.30F |
| 4 | 12 | PURE REALITY | Gillian Heinrich | Luke Tarrant (a) | 1.9L | 7 | 54kg | $26 |
| 5 | 17e | TALON LADY | Bruce W Hill | Paul Hammersley | 2.1L | 14 | 54kg | $51 |
| 6 | 9 | STOLEN KISSES | Joe Cleary | Jim Byrne | 2.2L | 15 | 54kg | $8 |
| 7 | 11 | CATSEYE SURPRISE | Terry Croft | Mitchell Bell | 2.3L | 8 | 54kg | $41 |
| 8 | 16 | LOVE SHUTTLE | Toby Edmonds | Chris Munce | 2.5L | 6 | 54kg | $41 |
| 9 | 6 | AVALADYLUCK | Stuart Kendrick | Daniel Griffin | 2.6L | 12 | 55kg | $13 |
| 10 | 8 | MISS HUSSON | Bruce W Hill | Matthew McGuren (a) | 2.8L | 1 | 54kg | $6.50 |
| 11 | 4 | PLAYTIME | Todd Austin | Ric McMahon | 2.9L | 3 | 57.5kg | $11 |
| 12 | 2 | TUKIYO | Lacey Morrison | Tommy Berry | 3.9L | 5 | 59kg | $6 |
| 13 | 13 | NORTHERN ZOOM | Trevor Bailey | Grant Cooksley | 4.7L | 10 | 54kg | $31 |
| 14 | 14 | SPRING ROSE | Jared Wehlow | Jason Taylor | 4.9L | 9 | 54kg | $51 |
| 15 | 10 | PANDORA CHARM | Barry Baldwin | Christian Reith | 6.2L | 2 | 54kg | $31 |
| 16 | 15 | ZIPPITY LASS | Gillian Heinrich | Michael Cahill | 8.2L | 11 | 54kg | $51 |
| – | 19e | REPARTEE | Matthew Dunn | Timothy Bell | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 18e | LOVEITT | Gai Waterhouse | Tim Clark | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 3 | DISCREET | Kelly Schweida | Brad Stewart | – | 0 | – | – |
