Gold Coast hosts a 10-race card on Saturday with several quality races as part of the Magic Millions Carnival. The first race commences at 1:30pm AEDT and the last concludes at 6:55pm AEDT. The rail is in its True position and conditions are set to be SOFT. Shannon Buckley highlights his three best bets for the meet!
Gold Coast Racing Tips: Saturday, January 11th 2025
Race 4: Queensland Magic Millions Subzero – 2200m - 3:30pm (AEDT)
(3) Gold Bullion $9.50/$2.80: We were with him last week over 1800m and he was ordinary to the eye. However, I think it was a sneaky good run as he looked to pick the bit up late and come again through the line after looking gone inside the final furlong. He was a tough winner second-up over 1600m at Eagle Farm when JUNIPAL clearly headed him before he picked himself up off the canvas to kick back and score (loved the fight). He meets MISS JOELENE 1.5kgs better at the weights off LS, he gets Tim Clark up, and he draws a lovely gate to roll forward and dictate from the front. The last time he saw heavy ground he led for the entirety and really knuckled down late to hold off all challengers before losing on protest (beat TANNHAUSER fair and square). I like him on the quick back-up, he handles the cut out of the ground, and he’ll eat the extra furlong. He can hit back hard
(4) Miss Joelene $4.80: Very honest mare who hasn’t been far away all prep and finally got the job done last start over 1800m. Expect her to be going on with it, but this is tougher again. Watch the market.
(5) Belvedere Boys $3.90: 5YO gelding who is chasing the hattrick of wins and has been winning well over 2000m and 2100m. Rises again now and must be respected. Blake SHINN to steer and he has a solid record on the soft track. Consider.
(3) Gold Bullion E/W
$9.50/$2.80 (1 Unit)
Race 5: Tab Magic Millions Fillies & Mares - 1300m - 3:50pm (AEDT)
(2) Hell Hath No Fury $27.00/$5.80: 5YO Mare who is a previous Group 1 winner. She has been far from her best this prep and will need to be taken on trust. Top jockey on top. Blow out hope.
(5) Bubbas Bay $6.50/$2.30: She looks a great value play in a tricky race. What a consistent mare she’s been this preparation winning 4 of her last 5 and placing in 19 of her 25 career starts. She’s come through some good form races over 1200m that have produced multiple subsequent winners. Her most recent effort was in the Magic Millions Nudgee Stakes over 1200m at Eagle Farm where she spent some petrol tickets early to cross over from a wide gate to settle OSL before digging in to fend them all off and win (she was there to be beaten a long way from home / loved how gritty she was through the line / beat home ABOUNDING and CIGAR FLICK which ties in with MISS ROUMBINI). She has another sticky gate today, but Andrew Mallyon knows her well and there doesn’t look to be crazy speed drawn inside her, so I’m hoping she can settle one off the fence behind the leaders. She’s another who will relish the sting out of the track, she’s at peak fitness, and she’s incredibly well weighted under these conditions as a 104-rater (she should be giving MISS ROUMBINI 7kgs). Genuine winning chance.
(6) Miss Roumbini $3.20: Talented 4YO Mare done a nice job last start winning in top grade. Hard fit and goes well on the soft. Must be respected. Watch the market.
(5) Bubbas Bay E/W
$6.50/$2.30 (1U/2U)
Race 10: Racing QLD Magic Millions Open - 1300m – 6:55pm (AEDT)
(1) Yellow Brick $5.00: 5YO Gelding who has had a little freshen up and since trialled. He is a very talented horse and always goes well when fresh. Worth thought here.
(2) Cifrado $6.00/$2.10: The horse is flying this time in and looks perfectly placed to run well again. He flew home first-up over 1000m on a heavy track at the Sunshine Coast with 60kgs on his back to finish within 0.4L of SHALAA’S MOMENT (fastest L200m split of the race / second fastest 4-200m split of the meeting). He then went to 1200m at Doomben on a heavy 10 and was good behind key rival HIDDEN WEALTH when coming from last turning for home (leader was off and gone / clearly best of the rest / fastest L200m split of the race). He went to 1300m two-back on another heavy 10 and was snagged back to last from a wide gate before getting to the outside and destroying them (fastest 4-200m and L200m splits of the race / beat PRINCE OF BOOM which ties in with HIDDEN WEALTH). They stepped out to 1400m on a good 3 LS and he was good in defeat behind TRANSATLANTIC who had the run of the race / is airborne (second fastest 4-200m and L200m splits of the race). He draws an ideal gate for Thornton to settle midfield or better, any rain is a big tick for him, and he’s well weighted as a 102-rater. He has fitness on his side and I think the drop back to 1300m is ideal. Expect him to run well
(6) Boom Torqu $4.20: 5YO gelding who hasn’t been all that far away in recent runs and we know his best is good enough for this. Draws pole and gets Blake SHINN into the saddle. Market has been strong and he looks a danger.
(2) Cifrado E/W
$6.00/$2.10 (2U/3U)
