Magic Millions, the annual Gold Coast horse racing show will take place next week and over that week, almost $70 million worth of the best horseracing specimens will be auctioned. The event will present more than 1200 horses for sale and on Saturday the Magic Millions races will take place with a $1.14 million first prize.
The event has attracted some of the most important names in the horseracing world, including South African trainer Charles Laird, the Irish billionaire Magnier family, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Dubai’s royal family, Gai Waterhouse and Bart Cummings.
This year brings news and changes for the horseracing extravaganza since Hollywood actresses and supermodels like Pania Rose and Kristy Hinze will no longer be part of the event. Besides, the stunning gala balls have been replaced by a barnyard-themed party for 400 guests, most of them members of the corporate, racing and political worlds.
The marketing campaign this year has founding father of the Magic Millions John Singleton along with partners Rob Ferguson and Gerry Harvey and Harvey’s wife Katie Paige. Singleton says that, in spite of the changes, the event still has its gleam. “I don't think that the Millions have lost any of their magic,” he commented.
The new sponsor of the Magic Millions is Conrad Jupiters, which replaces RM Williams and gives the event a family, country but still glamorous feel. The fashion parades and elegant lunches have been maintained and will be attended by Kate Waterhouse, Professor Lyle Palmer, Gai Waterhouse, Sally Singleton and Kristie Clements of Vogue, among others.
According to Mr. Singleton, the budget on fashion events has been quadrupled this year and the saloon prepared for vendors and buyers has amazing staging and theatrics. “The venues, the locations, they're remarkable,” he said. “Outside of the horses and venues, the rest is showbiz.”
Gerry Harvey, co-owner of the Magic Millions, has 70 of his own horses going on sale this year and expects to get about $5 millions from their sale. “I hope that the event will one day knock off the Melbourne Cup as the country’s premier horse race,” Mr. Harvey commented about the Magic Millions.
The first Magic Millions auction sale took place in 1986 and presented a catalogue of 220 horses. That first sale was a success and the average of $30,000 exceeded all the expectations. Besides, top racehorses emerged from this Magic Millions Sale and the ones that followed.