Connections of Amosu turned a A$60,000 investment into a A$305,000 payday less than 12 months later when the pint-sized filly scored a last-stride win in the Magic Millions The Debut Plate at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
In the lucrative A$500,000 race run exclusively for Magic Millions graduates having their first start, Liam Birchley’s professional two-year-old jumped well from and inside draw, tracked the speed set by Darn Hot Lady and rallied over the final 200m to reel in that horse in the shadows of the winning post.
The Queensland trainer said the filly has been the consummate professional during her education and preparation.
Amosu booked her place in the Magic Millions Debut Plate via a series of strong trials at the Gold Coast, Doomben and Eagle Farm through the late spring and early summer.
“She’s been a pleasure to train,” Birchley said. “She’s got a magic temperament, barrier one helped and Nikita knew her well so it all came together.
“We were happy to lead if she landed there but we just didn’t know how much pressure there was going to be so we left it up to Nikita. She knows the filly very well for an unraced horse and she came up trumps.”
Bloodstock Solutions bought the daughter of Invader out of the Kenmore Lodge at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.
Jockey Nikita Beriman praised the filly’s tenacity on the heavy track in the finish.
“Isn’t she tiny but so full of heart,” Beriman said. “I expected to lead and I didn’t have the early toe to do that but she travelled so well underneath me and I had a lap full of horse coming into the turn.
“She just wanted to run away from the horse inside her but she dug deep and won well.”
Kenmore Lodge sold 14 yearlings during Book 1 of the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, including a Snitzel filly out of Stakes winner In Good Health (Lot 503) for A$575,000.