DONEGAL’S Martin Harley scored a big win down under after a long spell recovering from serious injury when he partnered the chestnut three-year-old filly Abounding (by Rich Enuff) to win the A$3 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (Restricted Listed Race) over seven furlongs last Saturday.

The 6/1 shot trained by Robert Heathcote, Abounding won by a head from outsiders Sovereign Fund and Flying Trapeze in the field of 16. It was an emotional return to the winner’s enclosure for Harley.

“Unbelievable. This time last year, four days away from the Magic Millions, I broke my neck, by God there was someone up there looking down on me today. It’s nice to get a bit of redemption, What a little superstar this filly is.

“She had a good run round, got a lovely split into the straight and by God she’s a heart of gold. I only landed over here a year ago, and this win has made me proud,” Harley said to SKY Racing just after his win.

The second $3million prize fund was for The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2yo Classic over six furlongs and it went to Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott.

The unbeaten Justify colt Storm Boy demolished his rivals in the lucrative two-year-old race by two and a half lengths.

New Zealand

Cambridge Stud Levin Classic (Group 1)

TRENTHAM held two Group 1s last weekend with the Cambridge Stud Levin Classic over a mile going to the Shamus Award filly Quintessa, who justified favouritism for Opie Bosson and trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson and owners Te Akau Awarded Racing Partnership.

Quintessa produced a brilliant turn of foot in the straight to burst into contention. She then faced challenges on both sides through the final furlong as Impendabelle fought back on the inside and Zabmanzor surged home out wide, but Quintessa held on for a narrow but authoritative win by a head.

“As soon as I got on the back of Impendabelle, I knew that she’d take me right into the race,” jockey Opie Bosson told reporters. “I was giggling turning for home.

“It was another gun ride by Opie, who just gets it right so many times,” Mark Walker added. “So does David (Ellis), going and buying these lovely fillies that can win races like this.”

Samantha Spratt won the second Group 1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph on Mercurial for trainer Stephen Marsh.

The win came some 21 years after Spratt suffered severe head injuries in a fall in an undercard race on Telegraph Day in 2003. Spratt is now a three-time Telegraph winner, with Mercurial following Mufhasa (2009 and 2011).

“It’s 21 years ago almost to the day that I had my fall on this day at this track, so it was good to tick this one off,” Spratt said. “I don’t have any memory of it – it’s basically a year of lost memory.

“This is a massive thrill,” Stephen Marsh added. “If you’d asked me even six months ago whether this horse could win a Telegraph or a Railway, I wouldn’t have said he could. But he’s just so tough. A couple of people even said to me before the race that he’s so laid-back and such a good doer, it almost looks like he needs another run. He’s just one of those horses that works, eats, sleeps and performs.”

America

FRANKIE Dettori won his biggest prize yet at Santa Anita when he took the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes on the mare Honey Pants for trainer Phil D’Amato.

Riding the rail in third position behind blistering fractions of :22.17secs and :43.99secs, Dettori cut the corner with the Cairo Prince mare turning for home and she assumed command at the top of the straight.

From there it was a dogfight to the finish, Dettori lost his whip on Honey Pants but handrode her vibrantly to the wire to edge Elm Drive by a head, with Gracelund Gray another three-quarters of a length back in third.

Also stateside, jockey Ben Curtis’ winter stint riding at Fair Grounds is bearing fruit. The Irishman has 17 wins to his name over the winter months and over $500,000 in prize money

India

THERE was also Irish success in India when Jendayi showcased her prowess at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Mumbai, securing a triumphant victory in the Villoo C. Poonawalla Indian Oaks.

Trained by Pesi Shroff, the daughter of Gleneagles was the odds-on favourite against four other fillies after she had won the Indian 1000 Guineas under Murphy last month, and she raced away in the final two furlongs for a wide margin success from Ameerah.