Hinchinbrook finished the 2018 Magic Millions Yearling Sale Book One with 15 yearlings averaging $158,000 and made his presence felt on the MM raceday siring the very first winner on the program.
Three year-old filly Problem Solver ended a run of narrow defeats in the best possible way with victory in Australia’s richest maiden race, the $250,000 Pacific Fair Magic Millions Maiden Plate (1200m) at the Gold Coast.
Trained by Gerald Ryan, she settled midfield off a strong tempo set by race favourite Dinnigan before being asked to quicken by jockey Robbie Fradd at the top of the straight.
Problem Solver let down with a brilliant turn of speed to claim the lead inside the final 200m before staving off a late challenge from Tony Gollan’s Sheesees Everything to clock a race record 1.08.87.
Ryan said the plan to tackle the race first-up was hatched with buyer and owner, former Hong Kong race caller and astute bloodstock agent David Raphael, after Problem Solver’s third consecutive placing at Gosford in September.
“It was her first preparation last time and she had three seconds,” Ryan said.
“By her last run when we put a pair of blinkers on her she was probably at the end of her preparation and I said to David (Raphael) then that we should turn her out and get her ready for this race first-up.
“I couldn’t give her another race before this because I reckon she would’ve won because she’d improved heaps, both strength-wise and maturity-wise.”
Problem Solver was a $160,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Yarraman Park draft and is the fourth winner from Group III placed Sweet Revenge.
In the sale ring this year at the Gold Coast, Hinchinbrook achieved his best result with a lovely filly from stakes-winner Rose of Choice fetching $450,000 for Yarraman Park when secured by Orbis Bloodstock.
