In a breathtaking display of raw talent, trainer Ciaron Maher has secured his third multi-million dollar Magic Millions 2YO Classic, this time with the promising colt Unit Five delivering a stunning victory on the Gold Coast this Saturday.
A Masterful Ride to Glory
Jockey Thomas Stockdale guided the two-year-old Unit Five, who started at odds of $8.50, to a commanding win in the $3 million feature race. In just his second career start, Unit Five made a decisive move along the rail in the home straight, bursting clear to leave a quality field trailing in his wake.
Maher, hailed as a "genius" by Channel 7 commentators on the day, celebrated a remarkable quinella, with his other runner, Tornado Valley, finishing second. The places were rounded out by By Choice and Double Cool.
Trainer and Jockey Hail a Special Talent
Speaking to Channel 7 after the race, an elated Ciaron Maher praised the team effort behind the young horse's rapid ascent. "We were happy with how they presented today," Maher said. "My brother put a lot of work into Unit Five to get him here and, you know, present and race like that."
He emphasised the rarity of the achievement, noting, "Second start. I don't think it's been done before to win at the second start. Awesome." This victory marks Maher's third in the prestigious race, following previous successes with Away Game (2020) and Coolangatta (2022), though those wins came when he was in a training partnership with David Eustace.
Maher also paid tribute to jockey Thomas Stockdale for an "incredible ride." He likened Stockdale's work ethic and ability to that of other successful riders in his stable, stating, "They are both good, hard-working fellows with plenty of ability the type of blokes that I quite enjoy working."
Stockdale's Career-Defining Moment
For Stockdale, the win represented a pivotal moment in his career. "It's just unreal. The last month and a half has been unreal," he said. "I might sound like a broken record but Ciaron's support has just changed my career. It's just surreal."
The jockey was full of praise for Unit Five's maturity and future potential. "For a young horse to go the rail by themselves to put a field like that away, it shows how mature he is," Stockdale observed. He confidently tipped the colt as "a two-year-old to be reckoned with in the autumn."
Favourite's Withdrawal Opens the Field
The race dynamics shifted dramatically on Saturday morning with the withdrawal of the heavily backed favourite, Warwoven. The unbeaten colt was scratched after Queensland Racing veterinarians overruled trainer Bjorn Baker's assessment that the horse was fit to race.
Baker issued a statement explaining, "Warwoven was trotted up again this morning and, in the opinion of both veterinarian Dr Allan Frogley and myself, we were satisfied he was fit to race. Unfortunately, the Queensland Racing Veterinarians were not of the same view, and we respect and abide by their decision." This late withdrawal left the classic wide open, setting the stage for Unit Five's spectacular triumph.
The victory solidifies Ciaron Maher's status as a powerhouse in Australian juvenile racing and announces Unit Five as a formidable new talent with a very bright future ahead.
