Rowe On Monday – What’s Next for National 2YO Classic winner, night racing here to stay for Millions organisers, Coolmore on the board in Japan

Queensland cameo just the start for The Next Episode

Ciaron Maher has never been afraid to back his judgment.

It’s that belief in himself that has seen him develop one of the largest training businesses in Australia. 

But even Maher was questioning the price of The Next Episode as bidding pushed beyond $2 million at last year’s Magic Millions sale on the Gold Coast.

If it wasn’t for Englishman Phil Cunningham, the exciting Snitzel colt – who won Friday’s $1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic in brilliant fashion – would likely have been in another stable.

The second foal out of the Group 3 winner Humma Humma cost Cunningham and partners $2.8 million when the hammer fell early on day three of the 2025 Magic Millions sale.

“I said, ‘this is the one’, and when it started to get up in price a bit, I looked at Phil and he was like ‘just keep going’, so fair play to him,” Maher told this column at the Gold Coast on Friday evening. 

“You don’t get many people that come out and their first horse they buy in Australia is that (price range). He’s stumped up. 

“He loves his racing, he’s got a stable in England, they took a team to Dubai, and I’m just glad that he’s on the right track here.”

The high price tag brings with it heightened expectations and Maher says his sights are firmly set on the Coolmore Stud Stakes in the spring for The Next Episode.

The two-year-old ran once before Christmas when unplaced in the Golden Gift before a four-start autumn campaign, beginning with a maiden win at Warwick Farm.

He was desperately unlucky in the Group 3 Kindergarten before winning both his starts in Queensland, including the Listed Dalrello Stakes at Eagle Farm.

“When you buy a horse like him the aim is for him to get in the stallion barn, and so far, so good,” Maher said. 

“He’s got an electric turn of foot, he’s by the right stallion, he’s got a good pedigree and off a good farm, so I’m sure Phil’s rapt. 

“The whole ownership group is stoked. After 50 metres they probably thought their dream was over, but he’s such a good colt that he was able to pull it off, and win it easily in the end.” 

Widden Stud’s Antony Thompson bred The Next Episode in partnership with Bill Betar and Paul Frampton, with the trio retaining 25 per cent in the colt.

Last year’s Magic Millions sale was a fruitful one for Maher, with Widden also supplying the trainer’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Unit Five in January.

The Supido colt cost $80,000 as a yearling, significantly less than The Next Episode.

Humma Humma’s yearling colt by I Am Invincible was bought for $600,000 by Tony and Calvin McEvoy and agent Damon Gabbedy at the Inglis Easter sale in late March.

The Denman mare, who was bought by the Widden syndicate at the 2021 Magic Millions National Sale for $1 million, has a weanling filly by Zoustar but missed to the champion stallion last year.

“Hey Siri, play The Next Episode by Dr. Dre.” 🎶

The $2.8 million colt lets rip down the outside and shows a sharp turn of foot to claim the $1 million @mmsnippets National Classic in style at the @GCTurfClub 👊#QLDisRacing pic.twitter.com/ajCP6vB99H

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) May 22, 2026

National Classic a shining light for Gold Coast

With a room full of breeding and racing industry figures lapping up trackside hospitality on Friday night at the Gold Coast, Magic Millions boss Barry Bowditch used the occasion to reaffirm the company’s commitment to the night racing concept.

The Gold Coast has long been regarded as the premier location for night racing, given its popularity as a year-round holiday destination. 

It was the second time the Magic Millions National 2YO Classic has been held at the Gold Coast. 

The first edition, won by Arabian Summer in 2024, was held at Doomben due to track issues at the Gold Coast.

Suggestions were that the crowd, certainly in the hospitality suites, was larger than last year’s attendance.

The quality of the Classic field also pleased Bowditch and his Magic Millions colleagues.

Trainer Tony McEvoy holds his filly Natural Fling, the daughter of Home Affairs who finished runner-up, in extremely high regard, so that adds credence to The Next Episode’s visually impressive performance, having overcome a slow getaway.

Whether the race could achieve restricted Listed status in the near future is an unanswered question. 

The independent Black Type Advisory Group, which will soon provide its recommendations to the Asian Pattern Committee, has been tight-lipped about its intentions, with all members abiding by their non-disclosure agreements. 

Japan breakthrough for Coolmore

Coolmore has hit the ground running in Japan just months after Sue Magnier, the wife of John Magnier, was officially granted a permit to own horses in the prominent racing country.

At Kyoto on Sunday, three-year-old Frankel filly Snowscape took out a 2000m maiden by about four lengths at just her second start.

 A sister to Group 3 winner Hans Andersen out of Listed winner Shadow Hunter, Snowscape is trained by Mitsu Nakauchida, the man who bought the Home Affairs-Sunlight filly at the 2025 Magic Millions sale from Coolmore for $3.2 million.

Nakauchida also trains a three-year-old son of Frankel for the Magniers, with the colt out of champion French sprinting mare Marsha, who won twice at Group 1 level in France and England.