WINNO'S WINNERS: GOLD COAST, JANUARY 17, 2026

By Darren Winningham | Friday, January 16, 2026

GOLD COAST this week, the second week of the 2026 Magic Millions Carnival with the $3 million Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic and the $3 million Magic Millions Guines headlining a ten-race card which is sure to provide a wonderful day of racing.

At the time of writing the track is rated ‘Soft’ with the rail out 2 metres.

Last weekend on speed or handy runners all seemed to have a distinct advantage with not many coming from behind throughout the day.

NB: As these selections were made prior to race-day, please check for any changes to track conditions and for any scratchings on the day.

Race 1 MAGIC MILLIONS MAIDEN

A $250 000 maiden race over 1100 metres to start us off.

Selections:

2 – Buckeye
9 – Misty Veil
11 – Cool Moon
13 – Bottles Of Shells

Race 2 MAGIC MILLIONS COUNTRY CUP

A restricted class race over 1400 metres

Selections:

13 – Stratified
2 – Earl Of Bantry
10 – Oberoi Princess
6 – Revolt
Rough chance – (3) Sir Carter

Race 3 THE STAR MAGIC MILLIONS DEBUT 2YO PLATE

A two-year-old race over 1000 metres. All runners are facing the starter for the first time.

Selections:

2 – Profit In Paradise
7 – Toorak Jewel
6 – Lady Moscato
4 – Wendell
Rough chance – (1) It’s Allabout Me

Race 4 QLD MAGIC MILLIONS SUBZERO

An Open class race over 2200 metres.

Selections:

2 – Major Beel
10 – Sun Worshipper
1 – Mis Joelene
5 – You Wahng
Rough chance – (6) Snitzanova

Race 5 TAB MAGIC MILLIONS FILLIES & MARES

A fillies and mares race over 1300 metres.

Selections:

14 – Just In Time
2 – Zaszou
3 – Lonhro’s Queen
9 – Poster Girl
Rough chances – (5) Countyourblessings & (4) Jenni The Fox & (11) Wooloowin

Race 6 HOWDEN MAGIC MILLIONS SNIPPETS

AN Open class race over 1200 metres.

Selections:

2 – The Instructor
1 – Hidden Wealth
8 – Gin A Tonic
9 – Pre Eminence
Rough chance – (7) Zealously & (6) Spywire

Race 7 TAB MAGIC MILLIONS TWO-YEAR-OLD CLASSIC

First leg of the Quaddie. One of the feature races – the Two-Year-Old Classic.

The big question is can Bjorn Baker (who celebrated his birthday on Wednesday this week) win two Magic Millions Classics in a row after winning last year? If he can – that will be his third victory in the race – after winning the race in 2014 with Unencumbered.

He trains Warwoven (4) who has been impressive winning both his career starts. Rachel King is looking for her first Magic Millions winner. Bjorn and Rachel have built a formidable alliance in recent years with numerous feature race wins!

Masvingo (10) is the stable mate who has been racing well enough to suggest she is a rough chance for the stable – Jason Collett will ride.

Ciaron Maher will be looking to win his first Magic Millions Classic training in his own right. He previously has won the race with Away Game (2020) and Coolangatta (2022) when he shared the racing honours with David Eustace who now is making his presence felt in Hong Kong. He seems to win on even numbered years. Can he do it in 2026?

I like Tornado Valley (2) who bombed the start at his first start in Queensland at Eagle Farm when beaten by Zip Lock (1). The stable has elected to put blinkers on this week – I think this is a critical gear change. Ethan Brown has retained the ride – at $11 he presents great value.

The stable mate is Unit Five (5) who has won his only race start at Caulfield on debut. Thomas Stockdale retains the ride. He appears to have plenty of improvement in him and he should not be overlooked. He has been based at the Gold Coast for a few weeks now and he has had a recent trial on the track that he won. He can cause an upset.

The QLD trainers are represented by a stable in form – Munce Racing who trains Zip Lock (1). He is undefeated in both his career starts. A last start winner in the Group 3 Bruce McLachlan Stakes – his sectionals in this win were awesome – Martin Harley will ride. Chris Munce has won this race as a jockey three times – can he win his first as a trainer – with his son Corey Munce?

You can never leave Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott out of Magic Millions calculations. Shiki (7) bounced back last weekend to win impressively – she will take plenty of confidence out of that win and Tim Clark will have her placed well throughout in the running.

Selections:

4 – Warwoven
2 – Tornado Valley
1 – Zip Lock
5 – Unit Five
Rough chances – (7) Shiki & (10) Masvingo

Race 8 GOLD COAST MAGIC MILLIONS GUINEAS

First leg of the Treble. The three-year-old feature over 1400 metres.

You could not have missed the magnificent win of Ninja (1) last start in the Magic Millions Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate. Missed the start – balanced up – came into the straight and destroyed some good class opposition. The win was dominant! Trained by Michael Freedman and Tommy Berry is aboard – only bad luck in the running should bring him undone here.

Memo (10) is trained by Peter Snowden and James McDonald will ride. He went around in the Gosford Guineas last start – had no luck and I think didn’t enjoy the track. Back to a bigger track and a longer straight – I think he can run a bold race.

Spanish Treasure (6) trained by Tony Gollan was awesome last week here winning over this distance – he steps up from a maiden win to a higher class race, but his form leading up to that win was impressive and he deserves a chance to post another win here – a change in rider this weekend – Ryan Maloney takes over from Tommy Berry who is riding Ninja (1).

Icarian Dream (11) is a Ciaron Maher trained filly. Looked like she needed the hit out first up a month ago in the Listed Gold Edition Plate – another one that may fill a place – ridden by Jamie Melham.

Selections:

1 – Ninja
10 – Memo
6 – Spanish Treasure
11 – Icarian Dream
Rough chance – (5) Saxobushi

Race 9 MAGIC MILLIONS CUP

An Open class race over 1400 metres.

Snowden Racing trains Need Some Luck (4) a solid winner last start out at Eagle Farm in The Buffering over 1400 metres. He looks well placed in this grade – Tommy Berry with another solid ride on the program. He has an excellent second up record and will race in behind the speed. Big chance!

Bosustow won the Magic Millions Guineas last year here. He has had two starts at the track for two wins. Trained by Annabel & Rob Archibald he has the services of James McDonald. He has been freshened since his latest few efforts in Western Australia and he always races his best fresh. A solid recent barrier trial win – he will be in the finish.

West Of Africa (7) is the stable mate. Craig Williams will ride. He has won here as well – he does mix his form, but something tells me on a track and at a distance at which he thrives he will be thereabouts.

Yellow Brick (1) won here last weekend first up with a big weight in restricted grade. He was super impressive and the Sears Racing team were full of praise for his win. A rider change with Ethan Brown to ride. He is trained here and looked forward last week – he will strip fitter – but faces a difficult challenge here again with the big weight.

Cool Jakey (9) is a last start winner – has an awful barrier draw, barrier 23 – he will need some luck from out there.

Selections:

4 – Need Some Luck
2 – Bosustow
7 – West Of Africa
1 – Yellow Brick
Rough chances – (9) Cool Jakey

Race 10 MAGIC MILLIONS CLASS 6 PLATE

A Class 6 race over 1200 metres to finish the day. A massive day of racing comes to an end – hopefully you have backed some winners.

Selections:

3 – Taltarni Fields
14 – Roselyn’s Star
5 – John Rambo
12 – Hawker Hall
Rough chance – (16) Zoubaby

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Jockeys Challenge

Looks like a solid battle between James McDonald, Rachel King, Tommy Berry, Tim Clark and Jamie Melham. Tommy Berry for mine.

Early Quaddie (races 3 to 6)

2,6,7 / 1,2,10 / 2,3,9,14 / 1,2,8,9 - cost is $144 to $1.

Value Early Quaddie (races 3 to 6)

2,6,7 / 2,10 / 2,3,14 / 1,2,8 - cost is $54 to $1

Quaddie (races 7 to 10)

1,2,4,5 / 1,6,10 / 2,4,7 / 3,5,14 - cost is $108 to $1

Value Quaddie (races 7 to 10)

2,4 / 1,10 / 2,4 / 3,14 - cost is $16 to $1

Treble (races 8 to 10)

1,6,10 / 2,4,7 / 3,5,14 - cost is $27 to $1.

Be sure to check the up to date and amended tips each Saturday morning on Facebook after any track changes and scratchings where I will post my updated selections and any late mail!

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