Magic Millions, brilliant concept or just plain flawed

There’s absolutely no doubt that, as a commercial venture and as a marketing concept, the Magic Millions is an outstanding success. No surprise at all when you look at who were the founding fathers! And there’s equally no doubt that, as an event, the Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival is right up there with the best of the glitz and glamour that the Gold Coast can offer. It’s a bit like “schoolies” for adults, just a tad less grotty, and with much, much more cash splashed out on parties, playtime and, most importantly, horses – both untried and unknown, those just a little bit tried, and others who are really equine teenagers.

All good, all fun, and all very Gold Coast. All very “now”.

But beneath the flash and the cash, what does it all stand for, and what does the Magic Millions concept really achieve?

Look at the history to find the answer. The plain and simple facts are that Magic Millions achieves its fundamental objective. It’s a commercial success that puts profits into the hands of breeders, traders, trainers – and the Magic Millions proprietors. That can’t be criticised. Australia is an entrepreneurial country and you make it where you see the chance. But alongside that, there is also the fact that virtually no Magic Millions Classic two year olds, or very, very few, train on successfully in their three-year-old year – and I defy anyone out there to show me a single Magic Millions Two-Year-Old winner who has raced successfully either over a distance, or as a five or six-year-old.

And I just don’t think that is a good thing for Australian racing. Magic Millions may well be a commercial success, it may well be exciting, but does it reflect the totality of racing?

My view is simply that it doesn’t. And if it doesn’t, it will always remain an interesting, albeit glitzy, diversion in the broad scene of Australian racing. A diversion that really doesn’t contribute to the longevity and versatility that, for me, is what racing a horse is all about. For me, it’s the challenge and the competition, not just the cash It’s all about developing a horse from a swift two-year-old, into a Derby contender at three, into a WFA middle distance or Cups horse at four and beyond. That’s where the real challenge of training and owning lies.

Magic Millions doesn’t stand alone as the recipient of this criticism. The Golden Slipper and the Blue Diamond cause the same effect.

The bottom line is that, as long as there is huge money for two-year-old sprint races, there will be breeders and buyers aiming at that target. It’s not as bad thing, per se. It’s just short-sighted when one looks at the broader picture.

Find me an Australian-bred racehorse that will be a serious contender for this year’s Melbourne Cup. Now there’s a challenge! It’s a challenge that isn’t going to go away any time soon, simply because Australian breeders have stopped breeding stayers – the lure of the quick money from races like the Magic Millions, the Golden Slipper and the Blue Diamond is, understandably, too strong to resist. Owners have the same attitude. I’ll give you another challenge. Find me a buyer at the Magic Millions sales who is there looking for a Melbourne Cup winner. If you can, send the person to me. I’ve got a big bridge in Sydney for sale at a real bargain price!

My point is simply this. As successful as Magic Millions is, it doesn’t add to the fabric of Australian racing in the way that it should. It’s all about short-term thinking and short-term gain.

And until things change, get used to our staying races, the Melbourne Cup included, being won by European and Japanese-bred horses, whether Lloyd Williams owns them or not! We have simply left the building as far as breeding well-rounded racehorses. We breed for speed, not speed and stamina. We breed to retire a colt at the end of his three-year-old year, so we can breed more just like him.

It might be money-making. It might be efficient use of assets. But it’s not racing as I love it!

By Rob Young

Give yourself the chance to become an instant millionaire on Magic Millions Day by joining King Of The Magic Millions… That is right $1,000,000*!!!!

Plus receive a 200%* initial deposit bonus for new accounts.

kingofthemagicmillions.justracing.com.au

 

*New acc only, excluding NSW, SA, VIC, WA. Turnover requirements & expiry periods apply. See t & c’s on NEDS website. Competition T & C’s apply also

 

 

Stay up to date with the latest racing news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest racing news!