Tumultuous has beaten resounding race favourite Sedanzer in a photo finish to the Magic Millions Trophy (2200m) on the Gold Coast this afternoon.
Tumultuous was all but forgotten in Magic Millions Trophy betting this morning and jumped a $26 shot with Brenton Avdulla in the saddle, while Sedanzer continued to firm and left the $2.30 favourite and clear market mover.
Jumping well, Avdulla elected to take a position within the field from a wide draw as All Too Huiying, Testashadow and Ingeegoodbe led the field past the post the first time.
Settling into a great rhythm and enjoying an easy time in transit, Avdulla slowly began working the horse into the race across the back straight and was offered a clear racing line with 400m to run.
Locking in a fierce sprint battle with Sedanzer in the final 200m, the Fastnet Rock gelding looked as though he would have to settle for second, but kicked well to win the race by the bob of a head.
Chris Waller underlined My Giuliano as his best chance of winning the Magic Millions Trophy this year, but was delighted that Tumultuous was able to get the job done.
“Obviously he’s from over the road as they all are here today and we actually had aspirations of being a Derby horse with him, but as its worked out we didn’t get to the Derbies with him,” Waller said.
“Gee, this is just as good. $1 million in prize money.
“Brenton Avdulla has done a great job – the horse’s has drawn very wide so he had to go back and conserve some energy to avoid being caught off the track. Saved ground coming through them and he had an uninterrupted run, which is what you need to win races like this.”
On first glance Sedanzer appeared to have dropped her head to the line at the perfect moment to win the Magic Millions Trophy, but had done the very opposite when the photo was confirmed.
With $51 pop Outraged rounding out the first three, the Magic Millions Trophy trifecta paid a cool $3313.