Tulloch Lodge juvenile Charges into $3m Magic Millions Classic contention
Gai Waterhouse gets it right more often than not, and her prediction that juvenile Straight Charge would romp home with the opening race at Randwick has proven to be on the money.
The $1.60 betting sites favourite was in a class of his own, dictating from the outset and extending his advantage in the straight to post a decisive 3-1/2 length win over Erno’s Cube ($6.50) with Pisces ($6) another half-length away third.
Winning jockey Tim Clark said Waterhouse’s words were ringing in his ears as he cruised to the line on the Magic Millions-bound colt.
“Gai said when I rang her this morning, ‘he won’t win, he’ll annihilate them’ and she was pretty spot-on,” Clark said.
“You can often see them trial well then sometimes get to the races and not produce it, but he was really good there. He showed that brilliant speed that he’s got and he was able to quicken off that.
“Although he’d had the two strong trials, he will still take a bit of improvement off today.”
Straight Charge is in his second racing preparation having finished runner-up to stablemate Espionage in the Breeders’ Plate in September.
His performance in Saturday’s Drinkwise Plate (1100m) at Randwick has reaffirmed his credentials for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast, for which he is among the leading fancies.
Clark has ridden both Straight Charge and fellow Magic Millions hopeful Storm Boy, also trained by Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and due to race at Eagle Farm later on Saturday, and the top jockey says both are richly talented colts in different ways.
“I think this horse is faster, but Storm Boy has got a lot of depth to him,” Clark said.
“They’re both extremely talented.
“He (Straight Charge) has always been a horse who has taken everything in his stride. They’re the sort of horses that get to those early races and can handle the occasion.
“He has developed a bit in his break and all systems go now to the Magic Millions.”
Straight Charge, a son of Written By, was a $270,000 yearling purchase for Yulong Investments.
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Tony Gollan’s two-year-old Itching To Go in 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Tony Gollan is leaning on a proven strategy as Itchintogo lines up on a seven-day backup in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) this Saturday. The approach has delivered strong results historically, with six winners of the $3 million race following the same path over the past 15 years. Purchased for $60,000...