Aim and Gotta Kiss make strong Millions claims
Two highly contrasting contenders yesterday staked their claim, within minutes of each other, for the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) on January 11, while another firmed dramatically for the coveted juvenile prize at the Gold Coast, despite not competing.
Co-trainers Peter and Paul Snowden, whose resume includes no fewer than six winners of the three major 1200 metre two-year-old races in Australia, struck first blood with Aim (Star Witness), a commanding winner of the TAB 2YO Handicap (1200m) at Randwick.
Then, ten minutes later at Eagle Farm, trainer Steve O’Dea and jockey Stephanie Thornton – neither of whom have won a Group 1 race or one of seven figures-plus prize-money – responded with Gotta Kiss (Not A Single Doubt) who claimed the Magic Millions Basil Nolan Jr 2YO Plate (1000m).
Meanwhile, the Chris Waller-trained Blondeau (I Am Invincible) was promoted to equal favourite – with Aim – for the 2YO Classic in response to the form being franked from his debut second when arguably unlucky behind the Snowden-trained youngster.
Blondeau is nominated for Randwick next Thursday and Saturday and also for Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The market response to Aim’s performance was no surprise given his four–length winning margin ahead of stablemate Stellar Pauline (Not A Single Doubt), also a Magic Millions nominee, who similarly spaced the remaining nine runners.
The Snowden team, which previously won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in 2016 with Capitalist (Written Tycoon) and has claimed the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) three times and the Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) twice, boasts ten juvenile wins this season from 24 runners, including Golden Slipper co-favourite Dame Giselle (I Am Invincible).
“His demeanour’s everything,” Peter Snowden said of Aim, “ability’s one thing, but if you’ve got the demeanour to go with it then they normally get a fair way.
“He’s got the two good runs now and 1200 metres is certainly no problem. I’m confident he’ll get further a bit later on but it’s good to see him doing what he is now. It’s very encouraging.
“He pushed into the clear and once he got clear he extended beautifully so it was a good watch.”
As to his successful start this season with his two-year-olds, the co-trainer was typically cautious.
“It’s early days yet but it’s a good start and it’s good to see they’re bringing their trial form to the races as sometimes they can fall apart on race day or not train on, but so far they’re going really well and we’re very grateful for the opportunities we’ve been given,” he said.
One of five winners on the day for the Snowdens, Aim was ridden by dual Magic Millions Classic winning jockey Tommy Berry who was certainly taken with Aim’s performance.
“He relished the (good) pace,” Berry said.
“Peter (Snowden) said it was very important not to chase that speed, just let him get into his comfort zone, even if we were spotting them a start. He said ‘at the half mile he’ll drag you into the race’ and he sure did and I got there way too easy.
“He’s got plenty in more store, so bring on the Magic Millions.
“He’s doing everything effortlessly at the moment. He handles every condition. There’s always plenty of genuine speed in the Magic Millions; it takes a nice horse to come off the speed and beat them but I think he’s the one to do it.”
Snowden’s opportunity with this horse comes courtesy of several of the industry’s major players.
A $200,0000 Magic Millions purchase for China Horse Club/ Newgate Bloodstock from the Newhaven Park draft, Aim’s ownership group reads like a who’s who of the racing-breeding game – Newgate Bloodstock, China Horse Club Racing Pty Ltd, Horse Ventures, Newgate S F, Go Bloodstock Australia, G1G Racing & Breeding, Nick Vass Bloodstock, Glenlogan Park, Aston Bloodstock, Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd and Carpe Diem.
Aim (2 c Star Witness ex Vintage Strike by Smart Strike), bred by B2B Bloodstock, is the second foal of Vintage Strike (Smart Strike), a winning half-sister to two Group 2 winners from the Group 1-winner Bollinger (Dehere) who herself is a daughter of Golden Slipper winner Bint Marscay (Marscay).
B2B are now consigning yearlings under their own name and offer the brother to Aim as Lot 21 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale next month.
Form-line and Magic Millions rival Blondeau also has an imposing ownership group with the Baramul Stud presented colt, who was knocked down to Chris Waller Racing-Mulcaster Bloodstock for $360,000, raced by Mr C J Waller, Magic Bloodstock Racing, Mystery Downs, Mrs C M Cook, Mr N A Greenhalgh, Mrs M T Greenhalgh, Werrett Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Carpe Diem, Mr I Bruce, Mr R Smith and Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd.
Aiming to spoilt the colt’s party will be Gotta Kiss (2 f Not A Single Doubt ex Sweet Kiss by Strada) who was purchased by Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbreds and O’Dea for $150,000 at the Magic Millions last January.
Yarraman Park Stud offers her I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) half-sister, catalogued as Lot 834 at the sale in 2020.
Stellar Pauline, the filly who sold for $875,000 to Stonestreet Stables, might also be a contender if she takes improvement from her first run since early October.
Victory for Gotta Kiss would certainly be momentous for jockey Thornton and the Proven Thoroughbreds syndicate of female owners and very much so for O’Dea, who would be hoping to top a milestone day at Randwick last season when he notched his first Sydney winner and first Group winner on the same day – winning a benchmark race with Doubt Defying (Not A Single Doubt) before his half-brother Sesar (Serbing) took out the Roman Consul Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m).
Gotta Kiss finished strongly to win at Eagle Farm, impressing Thornton who may now get the opportunity to become only the second female rider to win the Magic Millions 2YO Classic – following Clare Lindop’s success on Augusta Proud (More Than Ready) in 2008.
“I’m really pleased with her,” Thornton said, “it takes the pressure off that we’re in the Millions now and she gave me the feel that the 1200 (metres) is going to be ideal.
“We got the gap fairly early in the straight and got up to the leader fairly quickly but she was still running through the line.”
Gotta Kiss ran the 1000 metres in 56.77 seconds which bettered the previous class record of 57.22.
O’Dea also expects the step up to 1200 metres will suit his filly, as would a genuine tempo.
“I think she’s going to be even better in a frantically run race two or three pairs back where she can do her best work late,” he said.
“She got a little bit hot in the yard today; it’s still all a little bit new for her but the run will bring her on and I’m looking forward to getting her to the 1200 (metres).
“She had the three weeks off and did really well in between, put a bit of weight on, she’s shown good ability from the get go and never let us down – it’s exciting to be heading to the Millions.”
Jamie Walter told ANZ Bloodstock News before yesterday’s race that the primary focus for the filly was the Magic Millions.
“That is the way it has fallen and, because of the lucrative women’s bonus, everything we have done since (her last run) has been designed to try and get her there on Millions day,” he said.