There was an impressive upset in the rescheduled 2023 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas results at the Gold Coast on Thursday with the Richard & Will Freedman-trained Fashion Legend scoring a gutsy win at 20/1.
Fashion Legend was brave at big odds winning the rescheduled 2023 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas at the Gold Coast. Photo: Steve Hart.
One of eight abandoned Magic Millions races postponed after last Saturday’s wash-out, the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) resulted in a thriller with top honours going to the Freedman’s flying Deep Field gelding Fashion Legend.
“I never thought I’d be speechless,” co-trainer Will Freedman told Channel 7 after his career best win.
“Just incredible. I can’t believe it.”
Despite having won his past three on the trot including the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at Doomben on New Year’s Eve, the in-form galloper went out at Magic Millions Guineas odds of $21.
Jockey Joshua Parr travelled up for just the one Magic Millions ride this year and was rewarded getting the job done in a tight finish from a wide alley on the upset winner.
Fashion Legend charged up the middle of the track late as the make-up of the race totally changed inside the final 50m.
Having shown lovely speed and looking to hand Queenslander Tony Gollan with a big double after his win in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic with smart filly Skirt The Law, Spiritualised led the Guineas field around.
He set a strong pace up front and had the lead around the turn moving out three-wide on the track down the straight looking to go all-the-way after giving a decent kick with 200m to run.
After the front-runner began to fade inside the final furlong however, the runs came from further back in the field including jockey Ben Thompson rallying on the well-backed favourite Yellow Brick ($2.70F).
Having found himself in an awkward position three-wide midfield throughout, Yellow Brick switched back to the inside with 100m to go and came driving up the rail looking the winner.
He was just denied however by Fashion Legend at the big price, while the John O’Shea-trained Hell I Am ($12) was also given a gun ride by Jamie Kah to cross only a half-length back third in the Restricted Listed event.
“We thought we had good form and he sat three-wide with no cover,” Freedman said of the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas winner.
“He’s just a tough, honest horse.
“Just absolutely lost for words.
“It’s definitely the biggest thrill of my life.”
2023 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas Results & Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | FASHION LEGEND | Richard & Will Freedman | Joshua Parr | 14 | 57kg | $21 | |||
| 2 | 4 | YELLOW BRICK | Tony & Maddysen Sears | Ben Thompson | 0.3L | 4 | 56kg | $2.70F | ||
| 3 | 7 | HELL I AM | John O’Shea | Ms Jamie Kah | 0.5L | 9 | 56kg | $12 | ||
| 4 | 3 | KINGS CONSORT | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Ben Melham | 1.3L | 1 | 56kg | $31 | ||
| 5 | 5 | SPIRITUALISED | Tony Gollan | James Orman | 1.6L | 13 | 56kg | $11 | ||
| 6 | 10 | GREEN SHADOWS | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Brenton Avdulla | 2.4L | 11 | 56kg | $26 | ||
| 7 | 12 | STROLL | Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted | Craig Williams | 2.8L | 8 | 54.5kg | $16 | ||
| 8 | 13 | TYRESA | Kelly Schweida | Larry Cassidy | 3.6L | 5 | 54.5kg | $31 | ||
| 9 | 15 | LATAKIA | Tony Gollan | Tim Clark | 3.7L | 2 | 54kg | $14 | ||
| 10 | 14 | RUSSIAN CONQUEST | Peter & Paul Snowden | James McDonald | 4.7L | 7 | 54kg (cd 55kg) | $4.60 | ||
| 11 | 6 | SOOTHSAYER | Lee Freedman | Boris Thornton | 4.9L | 15 | 56kg | $26 | ||
| 12 | 9 | CUSACK | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Regan Bayliss | 10.2L | 10 | 56kg | $201 | ||
| 13 | 11 | NORTHERN EXPRESS | Michael Nolan | Ryan Maloney | 10.4L | 12 | 56kg | $101 | ||
| 14 | 8 | MISHANI WARFARE | Les Ross | Brodie Loy | 10.6L | 3 | 56kg | $201 | ||
| 15 | 1 | TIJUANA | Ben & JD Hayes | Mark Zahra | 13.6L | 6 | 58kg | $14 | ||
| 19e | WEST OF AFRICA | Annabel Neasham | Chad Schofield | 0 | ||||||
| 20e | HELLAVADANCER | Kris Lees | 0 | |||||||
| 18e | MISHANI PERSUASION | Les Ross | 0 | |||||||
| 16e | SHALAILED | John O’Shea | Tommy Berry | 0 | ||||||
| 17e | WEALTHY INVESTOR | Damien Lane | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
