King of Sparta
In a display that paralleled his most lucrative career triumph to date, King of Sparta scorched down the centre of the Aquis Park Gold Coast Racetrack to collect a second Magic Millions feature and seven figure race.
The Snowden Racing trained, James Macdonald ridden gelding monstered his rivals over the closing stages to claim the lion’s share of the 2023 AUD1,000,000 Magic Millions Snippets (1200m) and ensure the event was added to his triumph in the 2022 AUD2,000,000 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) from a year ago.
The Magic Millions Snippets was singled out as a target race immediately following last year’s Guineas success and today result was a reward for the patience of connections who conceded to the gelding having light autumn and spring campaigns to ensure he was peaking today.
And with due reason, the successive Magic Millions wins have been instrumental in his building his career prize money to mover AUD2.2 million and, no doubt, a third tilt has already been pencilled in for 2024.
“King of Sparta is a quality sprinter and he dually saluted,” said co-trainer Paul Snowden.
“[King of Sparta’s] just got to win one of these races every year and he keeps ticking all the boxes for us. He loves coming up here and being away and he loves the sunshine. God bless him.”
Macdonald rode his mount with deserved confidence to post his third win on the programme. Post-race he summarized the race as panning out ideally for King of Sparta.
“It worked out really well. The pace was nice, he travelled well, he was the best horse in the race,” Macdonald said.
“It was just perfect, any slower and he would have over raced a little bit but he has come a long way, he is a lovely horse.”
King of Sparta hinted at his undoubted abilities as a juvenile but was unable to translate those talents into results until after he was gelded. Patient training and maturity have improved his consistency further with the Magic Millions Snippets his third win from seven starts over the last year.
King of Sparta’s triumph followed a three-horse tilt at the showpiece AUD2,000,000 Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m). The representation of China Horse Club, Newgate Farm, Trilogy Bloodstock and partners was superseded only by fellow partner Sir Owen Glenn – an indication of the success of their 2022 buying foray.
At this year’s event, the syndicate secured 18 yearlings including six by King of Sparta’s champion sire, I Am Invincible.
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