MM double to Yarraman Park

“It was an extraordinary day to say the least,” Harry Mitchell told Aushorse webnews. “You take a lot of pride in what you sell (Yarraman Park has previously sold a Redoute’s Choice colt for $3 million at the 2006 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and Virage de Fortune for $3.4 million at the 2007 Inglis Broodmare Sale), but there is nothing more satisfying than seeing your own stallions win big races,” Mitchell said.

Houtzen overcame a wide barrier and led throughout to score a brilliant 0.5 length win for Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds in the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m)

Runner-up was last year’s top priced lot at $1.6 million, 2YO colt Chauffeur (Snitzel/Mirror Mirror) while fellow 2YO filly Madeenaty (Exceed And Excel/Set for Fame) was third. Chaffeur’s family has had mixed success in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. His dam Mirror Mirror won the race in 2006 while his half-sister No Looking Back was relegated to second after a contentious protest in 2012. While sires such as General Nediym have won the Classic and then been represented by two winning progeny in Regimental Gal and Military Rose no mare has been represented by a subsequent winner.

The Magic Millions Ladies In Racing bonus in the 2YO Classic also added to the richest day in Australian Thoroughbred racing, with connections for Real Princess taking home $325,000, Falconic $100,000, Cellar Girl $50,000 and Saxton Rock $25,000.

Houtzen, who extended her unbeaten record to three wins from three starts for $1,285,400 earnings, will now attempt to join Dance Hero (2004), Phelan Ready (2009) and Capitalist (2016) as the only winners of the Magic Millions-Golden Slipper double at Rosehill in March.

"It's been a great effort and today she proved she was the best filly," Edmonds said post-race. "Winning the Magic Millions is everything to us. It's our home town and a dream come true."

Houtzen, who hails from the family of 4-time Group 1 winner and champion South African mare Sun Classique and Group 1 South Australian Oaks winner Gamine, was bought by Edmonds Racing for $105,000 at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Yarraman Park. In fact Houtzen’s dam Set For Release and Madeenaty’s dam Set For Fame are both daughters of unbeaten dual Group 1 winner Reset.

Ironically, Edmonds also bought I Am Invincible as a yearling for $62,500 at the 2006 Inglis Classic yearling sale. But despite a debut win as a 2YO by five lengths at Warwick Farm, four subsequent unplaced runs resulted in a change of stables for which he won black type races at Morphettville and Caulfield and was runner-up to Takeover Target in the Group 1Goodwood Stakes.

QUEENSLAND-bred Group 3-winning and 4-time Group 1-placed stallion Hinchinbrook (Fastnet Rock/Snippets' Lass) gained more black-type success for Yarraman Park Stud when his 3YO daughter Flying Jess won at huge odds of $101 for Melbourne trainer John Moloney in the $2 million Listed (R) Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m).

Left in her wake were fellow 3YO fillies dual Group 1 winner Global Glamour (Star Witness/Spectacula) and Eckstein (I Am Invincible/Comrie).

Flying Jess's surprise win improved her record to two wins (including the Group 3 South Australia Sires' Produce Stakes) and two placings from 12 starts for $1,296,430 earnings.

A daughter of Flying Albert mare Maritess and hailing from the same family as Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Dinky Flyer (her third dam), Flying Jess was bought by Prime Thoroughbreds for $60,000 at the 2015 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Milburn Creek. The yearling half-sister to Flying Jess by Not A Single Doubt was sold to Gollan Racing and John Foote Bloodstock on Wednesday's opening day of the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $130,000.