Progressive three-year-old gelding Hell To Pay delivered a dazzling performance to claim the $250,000 Canadian Club Magic Millions Maiden Plate (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday. Trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, the son of Hellbent shrugged off his maiden status with style, stamping himself as a horse to watch.
Under the expert guidance of champion jockey Craig Williams, Hell To Pay ($2.20 fav) broke cleanly from barrier four and settled just off the speed. With 300 metres to go, Williams asked for an effort, and the gelding responded brilliantly, powering to the lead.
Despite late challenges from Stardeel (Bjorn Baker) and Paccadero (Ciaron Maher), Hell To Pay dug deep and maintained a strong margin to cross the finish line a length ahead of his rivals.
The Victory That Was Coming
Hell To Pay’s breakthrough victory had been eagerly anticipated by his connections. After a string of four minor placings in competitive New South Wales maidens last year, the gelding was overdue for his moment in the spotlight.
Trainer John O’Shea was confident his charge would deliver on the Sunshine Coast, citing Hell To Pay’s consistency against tough Sydney fields.
“To be fair to the horse, he just kept running into some really smart ones in Sydney – Tuilleries is a Group horse on ratings,” O’Shea explained.
“He loves to get his toe in, Willo rode him like a good thing and he got the job done. We were optimistic about his chances.”
Jockey Craig Williams was equally impressed by the gelding’s professionalism, crediting the win to a combination of the horse’s ability, a favourable draw, and the training team’s preparation.
“Today that horse was favourite, he was stepping up to a suitable distance, and he was too good for them,” Williams said. “So far my day is amazing.”
A Magic Millions Legacy in the Making
Hell To Pay’s pedigree further solidifies his potential. Purchased for $280,000 by Champion Thoroughbreds from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the gelding comes from a star-studded bloodline.
Notably, Yarraman Park Stud will offer Hell To Pay’s full-brother as Lot 1001 in next week’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. With a family tree that includes Everest champion Yes Yes Yes and Group 1 winner In Her Time, the colt is expected to generate significant interest from buyers.
Looking Ahead
Hell To Pay’s victory is not just a milestone for the gelding but also a testament to the strength of Hellbent’s progeny. With the Magic Millions Yearling Sale fast approaching, the timing of this win couldn’t be better for those invested in his bloodline.
For O’Shea, this win represents just the beginning, as his team gears up for another year of selecting top-class yearlings.
“We’ve got our eye on a lot (of yearlings); we usually buy eight to 12,” O’Shea said.
Hell To Pay’s win in one of Australia’s richest maiden races will undoubtedly boost his career prospects, and his connections will be dreaming big as the gelding moves forward to higher targets.
