A hefty price tag doesn’t always guarantee results, but The Next Episode will get the chance to prove his worth in the $1 million Golden Gift at Rosehill.

The son of champion sire Snitzel and stakes-winning mare Humma Humma was a $2.8 million Magic Millions purchase for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock — briefly the sale’s top-priced yearling before a Sunlight filly sold for $3.2 million.

The colt has impressed early, showing sharp acceleration to win his latest 900m trial at Rosehill.

Maher’s assistant trainer Jo Gerard-Dubord said the result reflected what they had been seeing in training.

“He trialled at Rosehill and quickened very well. He was still a bit new when he got to the front but he’s a lovely horse,” she said.

Maher will also saddle up stablemates Artemex and Spicy Miss in the Golden Gift, with Gerard-Dubord saying, “I’d like to say The Next Episode is because he’s the expensive one, but you can make a case for all three.”