Rocky’s Don’tdoubtthelady makes Magic Millions Classic Field

Rockhampton horse trainer Clinton Taylor told a local journalist that it was a crazy day leading into last Saturday’s transferred Gold Coast Magic Million race meeting.

The Berserker-based Callaghan Park trainer travelled 600kms south to race his promising local two-year-old filly Don’tdoubtthelady in the highly anticipated Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival.

Taylor told ABC Capricornia’s Aaron Kelly, that it had been a “crazy 24 hours” while paying  credit to racing authorities.

“I was lucky enough the horse was in Brisbane, which is where she stays,” he said.

“A lot of the owners were at the casino on the Gold Coast but soon changed plans and came up to the Sunshine Coast.

“It was a credit to Racing Queensland to be able to move things very quickly.

“We didn’t know where we were going but they got the meeting underway, and it was very successful.”

Taylor’s horse placed third in the 2YO Fillies (1200m) at Caloundra’s Corbould Park on Saturday.

Earning prizemoney at each of her three starts to date with a Rockhampton win, and minor placings at Doomben and the Sunshine Coast, Don’tdoubtthelady has made the field as number 15 in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

Sixteen horses will run in the race, with five emergencies drawn to cover any scratchings.

Don’tdoubtthelady will be ridden by Justin Stanley.

Taylor was philosophical about the venue for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

“I’ve heard the Gold Coast Turf Club is doing everything in its power to get the track right, so we’ll just leave that to the professionals and see how we go,” he said.

Locally owned and bred Hi Barbie is firming in betting for the Magic Millions Classic. The filly trained in Brisbane by Tony Gollan and raced by Jennifer Acton, has had two starts for one win.

Hi Barbie is a daughter of the Acton family’s high-class mare Outback Barbie and she was ridden by Angela Jones when she won a $200,000 2yo Set Weight race in Brisbane, defeating Cuddles For Kimmy.

At her only subsequent start on 21 December at Eagle Farm, Hi Barbie finished well-beaten but when vetted she was found to have experienced cardiac arrhythmia (changes in the rhythm of the horse’s heart). 

Hi Barbie has firmed in bookmakers markets overnight from $27 in to $18. Connections have engaged Tim Clark to ride Hi Barbie in the Magic Millions.

A public barrier draw for The Star Magic Millions 2YO Classic starters will be conducted on Tuesday morning at 8.00 am on the Gold Coast foreshore (Trickett St)

RJC CEO, David Aldred.