William McShane, Yorke Peninsula Country Times
A Kadina horse has fallen agonisingly short of winning the $3 million Magic Millions 2-Year-Old Classic on the Gold Coast last Friday, January 17.
The colt, Gallo Nero, was sold by Glenbeigh Farm, on behalf of Kadina’s Kambula Stud in 2024, and placed third in the Magic Millions race.
Rebecca Wilson (nee Toole), from Kambula Stud — whose family has been breeding horses for more than 50 years — said she was pleased with Gallo Nero’s third-placed run.
“We were stoked — third is pretty good in a listed race, so we were pretty happy,” Wilson said.
“He missed the start but then he turned the corner and came third by about two lengths.”
Wilson explained while he was beaten by two fillies (female horses under the age of four), Gallo Nero was the first colt over the line in a race that attracted horses from around Australia.
“To have a home-bred up in lights is a pretty big deal, so we’re pretty stoked with it all because he is the first foal out of the mare (Chianti),” Wilson said.
Gallo Nero has now been elevated to the black type designation, for horses that have won or been placed in a stakes race.
The colt was trained by racing royalty, John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes from Sydney, and ridden in the 2YO Classic by Tyler Schiller.
This Hawkes trio helped Gallo Nero reach the 2YO Classic by preparing it to win at Randwick three weeks earlier. The colt was also a favourite leading into the race.
To be eligible for the race, horses must have been sold or passed in at a Magic Millions sale.
Gallo Nero’s future races are not yet known.
This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 25 January 2025.