Racing
Ladbrokes Blog: 2026 Magic Millions Gold Day Preview
The Queensland Summer Racing Carnival moves to the Gold Coast this Saturday with the Magic Millions Gold twilight meeting, a key staging point on the road to Magic Millions Day.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
A 10-race program worth $7.3 million headlines the evening, led by the $3 million Sunlight slot race for three-year-olds, along with the $1 million The Syndicate and the $500,000 The Wave.
The two-year-olds also take centre stage, with the Gold Nugget and Gold Pearl offering vital pathways into next week's Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
I've run a fine-tooth comb over the form and provided my top selections for each race below.
Race 1 – GOLD NUGGET QTIS 2YO Colts and Geldings (1100 METRES)
No. 1 Itchintogo
ITCHINTOGO (1) looks extremely well placed in the Gold Nugget given that he is the only horse with race experience.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding was professional in a trial win prior to his first race and just knocked up late over 1200m on debut after leading to finish second by 1.57 lengths.
He improved second-up when dropping back to 1110m at Doomben where he sat outside the lead before drawing clear late to win by a neck.
With the benefit of fresh legs following a short let-up, he looks like the leader and should prove hard to run down.
Selections: 1-2-3-5
Bet Now: Gold Coast Race 1
Race 2 – GOLD PEARL QTIS 2YO Fillies (1100 METRES)
No. 2 By Choice
BY CHOICE (2) could not have been more impressive when winning on debut.
The Waterhouse & Bott-trained filly entered the 1100m Randwick contest having won two trials, but the outside barrier saw her price drift.
However, she showed good early speed to sit outside the lead before dashing clear to win by a length.
She'll be better for the experience and while she draws wide again, she has the necessary speed to land in a prominent position.
Selections: 2-1-7-6
Bet Now: Gold Coast Race 2
Race 3 – MAGIC MILLIONS MAIDEN PLATE (1400 METRES)
No. 2 Agraffe Rocket
AGRAFFE ROCKET (2) caught the eye when debuting over 1200m at Randwick.
The Kris Lees-trained colt jumped awkwardly and found himself in the second half of the field but to his credit he stormed home to finish a neck fourth.
He would have arguably won if the race was a 50m further which gives me confidence with him stepping up to 1400m.
Nash Rawiller takes the ride and I expect him to settle closer with a cleaner getaway.
Selection: 2-16-14-10
Bet Now: Gold Coast Race 3
Race 4 – MAGIC MILLIONS RISING STARS 3YO & 4YO Fillies & Mares Class 4 Plate (1300 METRES)
No. 6 Mamushka
MAMUSHKA (6) returned in terrific order with a win last start over 1300m at Randwick.
The O'Shea & Charlton-trained mare led before finding plenty in the straight to win by a length.
She'll strip fitter and boasts a win and a close second from her two previous second-up races.
Zac Lloyd retains the ride and should give his mount every chance in front in a race with limited speed.
Selections: 6-8-1-10
Bet Now: Gold Coast Race 4
Race 5 – MAGIC MILLIONS RISING STARS 3YO & 4YO Colts, Geldings & Entires Class 4 Plate (1300 METRES)
No. 5 Now Is The Hour
NOW IS THE HOUR (5) has been racing in great form this preparation and produced his best career effort last start over 1200m at Eagle Farm.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding flew out of the machine to lead comfortably before putting his rivals to the sword in the straight to win by 3.92 lengths.
The wide barrier is a concern, but he overcame a similar scenario first-up when winning by three lengths and he is rock hard fit.
Selections: 5-1-12-10
Bet Now: Gold Coast Race 5
Race 6 – SUNLIGHT CONSOLATION 3YO Plate (1100 METRES)
No. 8 Miss Freelove
MISS FREELOVE (8) returns to the races for the first time since a cracking run in the Group 3 Red Roses Stakes at Flemington in November.
The Peter Snowden-trained filly found the line strongly to finish 2.5 lengths third with the run better than it appeared given she came home in the slower section of the track and was held up.
A recent trial where she settled at the back before working home nicely will have her ready to produce a bold first-up showing.
She's drawn well for Tim Clark who should enjoy a nice run just off what looks like a decent speed.
Selections: 8-1-4-10
Bet Now: Gold Coast Race 6
Race 7 – MAGIC MILLIONS THE WAVE (1800 METRES)
No. 10 Miss Joelene
MISS JOELENE (10) was brilliant two starts ago over a mile at Eagle Farm when storming home from the tail to win by a length.
Unfortunately, the Kelly Schweida-trained mare was a victim of circumstance last start over that same course and distance when unable to run down Amor Victorious who got a picnic in front, going down by a nose.
She looked like she wanted further after her win two starts back and now gets it.
The daughter of Russian Revolution won this race last year and is racing in better form this time around.
Selections: 10-3-7-6
Bet Now: Gold Coast Race 7
Race 8 – MAGIC MILLIONS THE SYNDICATE (1100 METRES)
No. 1 Payline
PAYLINE (1) miraculously won The Syndicate last year when it was held at the Sunshine Coast courtesy of a booming finish and a perfect Damian Lane ride.
The Chris & Corey Munce-trained gelding has come a long way since then, going from a 77 rater to 104 which makes him extremely well weighted under the WFA conditions of the race.
Following a solid Spring Carnival campaign that saw him compete well at Group 1 level, he returned last start in the Listed Falvelon at Eagle Farm where he loomed but just ran out of puff late to finish under a length fourth.
He'll strip fitter second-up and gets blinkers back on.
There looks to be plenty of speed in the race which will aid his cause given Justin Huxtable should settle in the second half of the field.
Selections: 1-2-8-6
Bet Now: Gold Coast Race 8
Race 9 – MAGIC MILLIONS SUNLIGHT 3YO Plate (1100 METRES)
No. 2 Grafterburners
GRAFTERBURNERS (2) has come back this preparation in sensational form and looks well placed in the Sunlight.
The Kelly Schweida-trained gelding produced an enormous run first-up to win by 2.89 lengths over 1200m at Eagle Farm.
He raced flat second-up after that big effort, but his class got him across the line to win.
Last start in the Listed Gold Edition Plate, we saw a return to his very best when he easily accounted for his rivals.
There looks to be an abundance of speed in the race which should see James McDonald settle just off it before his mount's fitness and powerful finishing burst snaps into effect in the straight.
Selections: 2-6-5-9
Bet Now: Gold Coast Race 9
Race 10 – MAGIC MILLIONS QTIS OPEN (1300 METRES)
No. 1 Yellow Brick
YELLOW BRICK (1) returns to the races for the first time following a Sydney Spring campaign that saw him compete in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap and King Charles III Stakes.
The Tony & Maddy Sears-trained gelding resumed in this race last year carrying the same weight and gave a good account of himself, finishing 3.1 lengths fifth.
The Stradbroke Handicap runner-up looks to be trained up for a first-up attack give he's had three trials in readiness for this with two of them resulting in strong wins.
James McDonald has been booked to pilot and he won his only previous ride on the horse.
Selections: 1-5-8-9
