Shaquero Lands Magic Millions 2-Year-Old Classic

Chris Waller will plot a path to the Longines Golden Slipper (G1) with Shaquero after the exciting juvenile took out the Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2-Year-Old Classic in dominant style Jan. 16 at Gold Coast Racecourse.

Breaking from barrier 1 going 1,200 meters (six furlongs), the son of Shalaa never gave his connections a moment's worry as he stalked the leaders rounding the turn before powering clear emphatically down the straight to provide Waller with his first win in the race.

Ridden by Hugh Bowman, AU$13 chance Shaquero put 1 1/4 lengths between himself and runner-up Alpine Edge, with the winner's stablemate She's All Class a further 1 1/4 lengths behind in third. 

Shaquero showed an abundance of promise when bursting onto the scene in October to land the Arrowfield Breeders' Plate (G3) on debut at Randwick. He then disappointed when finishing seventh of eight in the Magic Millions B.J. Mclachlan Stakes (G3) on Boxing Day, before posting a second-placed effort behind Finance Tycoon in the Aquis Gold Nugget last weekend. 

Paul Shailer, representing the stable at the Gold Coast with Waller prevented from traveling due to border restrictions, was rapt with the performance. 

"It was his first time in behind horses and he really appreciated a nice hot tempo," Shailer told Sky Racing. "We got to get into a really nice rhythm. He learned at the right time of the race and he showed a really explosive turn of foot. That was probably the Shaquero that won the Breeders. 

"He's a classy colt and he's very athletic and a really good type to go with it. 

"I'm very happy for Chris, Neville (Morgan, co-owner) and Dave (Devine, co-owner) and everyone involved, all the staff back home and especially the Gold Coast team who have had a lot to do with this colt for a long time. They work tirelessly so it's a great effort by everyone."

Discussing Shaquero's performance in the B.J. Mclachlan Stakes at Eagle Farm, Shailer said there was plenty of head scratching going on in the stable. 

"He just raced a little bit fresh and ungenerous. We had a tongue tie after that day and he responded well to that," Shailer said. "Last week he raced a little bit fresh again and was probably a little bit above himself, so we knew he'd improve from that run. He stripped really fit here today and obviously barrier 1 plays a big part. He showed a great turn of foot like a good colt does."

Shaquero was bought by Mulcaster Bloodstock for AU$160,000 (US$109,860) from the Fernrigg Farm draft at last year's Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He is the fourth foal out of Not A Single Doubt mare Fimatino, who won twice and has provided three winners from her four runners to date. 

"Thirty years we've been trying to win this. It's a great thrill, I must say," said Devine. "It was fantastic when he hit the front, I thought 'this was it.' He's probably at his peak fitness now and has needed those past two runs, especially last week. I think it'll be a party tonight."

According to the betting markets, Shaquero was the outsider of Waller's three Classic runners, with She's All Class and fifth Ranch Hand both favored by punters. 

Shailer was notably animated when discussing Ranch Hand's performance and expects a big future from the son of Fastnet Rock, who was featured as an ANZ Bloodstock News Maiden of the Week following his 3 1/4-length win on debut at Warwick Farm in December. 

"He was super. He hit the line really strongly and he's going to go on to bigger and better things, he's a very nice horse and will win very good races," said Shalier.

Of She's All Class, he added: "She got back a little bit further than we anticipated and it got a little bit ugly from there on in. She's straightened up as the widest runner and never looked comfortable on the track."

Star Witness Gelding Lands Guineas

The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Aim led home a Star Witness quinella in an incident-packed running of the Gold Coast Magic Millions 3-Year-Old Guineas, which saw Ryan Maloney unseated from well-fancied favorite Isotope at the top of the straight in the 1,400-meter (seven-furlong) test. 

Sent off a $31 chance, Aim—who was recently sold to Hong Kong only for the buyers not to transfer the money—made ground on the outside before surging clear in the final 100 meters to comfortably defeat the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Amish Boy by 1 3/4 lengths, with Away Game finishing 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner in third. 

However, the race was marred by the unfortunate unseating Maloney from favored Isotope, who appeared to trip up when stalking her rivals. Isotope returned unharmed to the on-course stables, while Maloney, who was on his feet following the fall, was subsequently taken to hospital for precautionary concussion checks. 

The incident continued a terrible run of luck for Maloney in the race, after his mount Alligator Blood was subsequently stripped of the race last year because of a positive swab. 

Aim, bought at the 2019 Gold Coast Yearling Sale for AU$200,000 ($143,400) by China Horse Club and Newgate Bloodstock from the Newhaven Park draft, burst onto the scene in late 2019, winning his first two races, but failed to score in his nine subsequent starts prior to Saturday—including when sent off favorite for last year's Magic Millions 2-Year-Old Classic—culminating in him running sixth of eight in a Benchmark 78 contest at Randwick a fortnight ago. 

Despite his winless run—in which he showed moments of promise, including a third-placed finish in the Schweppes Skyline Stakes (G2) last February—Paul Snowden said he was expecting a big performance from the son of Star Witness. 

"We were pretty confident. He just needed to get back on firm going," he told Sky Racing. "We had to bite our tongue and run him a fortnight ago just to get him started, we kept running into wet tracks and he ran accordingly. 

"He probably lost his way a bit after that 2-year-old season. He's back as a gelding this preparation and it's a good bloody win!"

Snowden also had a message for Aim's Hong Kong buyers, who would have had the gelding in their possession by now had they transferred the fee. 

"He was sold and the money didn't come through, so we just played on and look what we've got today. Thank you very much for not buying the horse," Snowden said. 

Aim is the second foal out of the Smart Strike mare Vintage Strike. His brother Venting was sold to Danny O'Brien at last year's Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is yet to be raced. 

Bonham Lands Levin Classic 

Gary Harding's talented 3-year-old Bonham showed she is of the highest quality when taking out the Devan Plastics Levin Classic (G1) at Trentham.

Rated as the main danger to $1.80 favorite Brando, the Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard-trained filly earned her victory the hard way as she sat three wide for the majority of the race after breaking from barrier 10. 

Taken forward by Lisa Allpress to challenge for the lead rounding the home turn, $4.60 chance Bonham kicked clear early in the straight before holding off the late charge of Brando to win by a neck, with Wild Moose 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner in third. 

Bred by Little Avondale Stud, Bonham was purchased for NZ$160,000 ($109,440) by Harding out of the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale.

She is the first winner out of the Redoute's Choice mare Fortune's Choice, who was winless during her eight-race career. 

Avantage Retains Telegraph Crown

The versatile mare Avantage was at her very best when taking out the JR & N Berkett Telegraph Stakes (G1) for the second consecutive year at Trentham.

The Jamie Richards-trained 5-year-old scored first-up in the Sistema Railway (G1) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day to take her group 1-winning tally to five and she added a sixth with a devastating two-length defeat of Spring Heat under Danielle Johnson.

Johnson, who would go on to finish with four winners on the card, has partnered Avantage to three of her group 1 victories.

"She's a great mare and has done us all proud as that was pretty special," Richards said. "It was a 10 out of 10 ride as well.

"She will go to Te Rapa in a month now (for the BCD Group Sprint, G1) but she has got time for a quiet week after this.

"She's done a fantastic job for us and I would like to give her a chance to put a group 1 in Australia on the board.

"I think she deserves the opportunity, so we'll have to sit down and make a plan on how we get there.

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for NZ$210,000 ($152,544) from The Oaks Stud draft during the premier session at Karaka in 2017, Avantage has now won 13 of her 23 starts, with 10 of those at stakes level including her six group 1s.

Bred by Willie and Karen Calder from Bluff, Avantage already boasts an Australian group 3 victory in the 2019 running of the TAB Birthday Card Stakes (G3), as well as a group 2 placing from a brief campaign at 3.

One of 40 individual group 1 winners for prolific sire Fastnet Rock, Avantage has so far won more group 1s than any other son or daughter of the great stallion.