West Of Africa (Not A Single Doubt) pulled an extraordinary win out of the fire when he defied the odds to produce a stunning success in Friday’s $2 million Magic Millions Cup (RL, 1400m) at the Gold Coast.
Jumping as a $15 chance from the outside barrier in 18, the five-year-old son of Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice) was detached by a few lengths in last position for the first half of the contest under Tyler Schiller.
Making a move to join the rest of the runners approaching the home bend, West Of Africa was forced widest of all rounding the final turn and still remained in second-last place with just under 400 metres to race.
However, the gelding began to make significant headway down the straight and, having managed to move into second position hitting the final 100 metres, and maintained a sustained run to collar the $4.80 favourite Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) inside the final 50 metres to score by 0.8 lengths in the most incredible fashion.
The Chris Waller-trained Chrysaor (Better Than Ready) finished a further 2.3 lengths adrift in third place.
“My flight was a bit delayed but it didn’t matter whether I was here or not, as long as Tyler [Schiller] was here to give him that steer, that was all that mattered,” Neasham said.
“We drew the carpark but Tyler is the most positive jockey there is, he came out and said that he loved the draw for the horse.
“He flopped out the back and I was a little bit worried that he was a bit detached but he’s just got a fantastic turn of foot.”
Originally purchased for $340,000 by Tony Fung Investments and Phoenix Thoroughbreds out of the Edinburgh Park draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, West Of Africa was then resold to Neasham for $145,000 during the 2023 Inglis August (Early) Online Sale and is now raced by Terry Henderson’s OTI Racing.
Schiller, who had steered the Lee Freedman-trained Encoder (Encryption) to victory in the Magic Millions Subzero (2200m) in the opening event on the card, was delighted with the solid tempo being set from the leaders throughout.
“I love this horse,” the winning rider said. “He’s done a great job for me.
“He’s defied the pattern today, coming from last down the middle of the track. I was out the back and I knew that we were going quick enough.
“I said to Annabel [Neasham] before the race, if we’re midfield, three-deep with cover then we’re probably not going awfully quick but we were out the back, not chasing along, but I was definitely in a nice, off-the-bridle rhythm.
“When he started to pick up at the 600 metres, I just let him take me there, around the outside and he did the rest.”
Out of Group 2-placed winner Serena Bay (Sebring), West Of Africa (5 g Not A Single Doubt – Serena Bay by Sebring) is a three-quarter brother to Summer Loving (Exceed And Excel), who finished third in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the corresponding card in 2023.
With Friday’s victory, the gelding became individual stakes winner number 84 for the late Arrowfield stallion Not A Single Doubt.
The above is an article from Daniel Harrold from ANZ Bloodstock News and can be read here.