Deagon's Livingstone with more Millions on the horizon

By Jordan Gerrans

Only in the infancy of her training career, popular Deagon horsewoman Sharryn Livingstone has quickly developed a knack of producing Magic Millions day runners.

Livingstone is just in her fourth season as a licensed trainer and will have her second exciting two-year-old starter on the massive Gold Coast race day this coming Saturday afternoon.

The stable produced Thelwell for the 2YO Classic a couple of years ago and finished a respectable seventh behind Coolangatta.

Thelwell put himself in Magic Millions calculations that year after running second behind the eventual winner in the Group 3 B.J. Mclachlan Stakes in the weeks leading in.

In 2024 the Livingstone barn is not shooting for the biggest pay day on offer across the program but certainly will be sitting pretty if they can get the cash on Saturday.

The team have unraced colt Click Click Boom in the boy's edition of the rich The Debut race.

“I have been super lucky,” Livingstone said on Thursday morning before heading to the races at Kilcoy.

“To have a runner on two of those years I have been training, it is pretty exciting.

“I felt like I missed out last year without a runner on Magic Millions day (laughs).

“It is good to have one up and going again this year because it is such an exciting day.”

Thelwell has gone on to be an ultra-consistent city galloper and at his last start won a rich Class 1 event at Caloundra.

Livingstone was aiming to have another two-year-old ready for the 2023 edition of The Debut but did not make it there with shin soreness.

The Debut was introduced as a new race for two-year-olds staged exclusively for eligible Magic Millions first starters last year.

It was won by the Nathan Doyle-trained Rush Hour.

The Debut has been split into two divisions this year – one for either gender – with $500,000 on the line in each race.

Livingstone’s Spirit Of Boom youngster has trialled smartly before his first race day appearance, finishing second in the middle of December at the Gold Coast before winning a trial 10 days later at the same venue.

“I am definitely happy with him, each time I have done something with him he has improved every time,” the Deagon trainer said.

“In the first trial, he was probably a bit under done and we obviously pushed to get there to trial and get a qualifier in.

“I was over the moon with that trial though and he did a couple of things wrong, Justin Stanley said.

“In the second trial, he did everything absolutely right and I was really happy with him.

“He has not been put under too much pressure either, he has just done what he has had to do, which is good.”

Click Click Boom was a $27,000 purchase through the sales and a big crop of around 20 people own a share in the colt.

The majority of the keen connections are first-time owners in the sport and are set to descend on Aquis Park for the occasion this Saturday.

Livingstone had not set her eyes on the yearling before she parted with her cash as she kept striking out on other horses earlier in the sales.

“Each horse we sort of liked, we missed,” she recalls.

“We got to him and I think he was about the fifth one we bid on. We were lucky enough to get him.

“For all these new owners to get into a race like this, they are over the moon. The majority of them will be there on Saturday.”

Livingstone’s regular hoop Justin Stanley will need to contend with the widest barrier on offer this Saturday over 1000 metres.

Drawing wide might well suit the colt, Livingstone believes.

As race favourite The Hamo – prepared by the Hulbert family – has drawn the one and is speedy, Livingstone is hopeful Click Click Boom will be able to follow the speed into the race.

Livingstone broke in the colt with her daughter.

She says she hasn’t yet had to consider the gelding operation for Click Click Boom and described him as an ‘absolute gentleman and beautiful horse’.

Click Click Boom is a $21 chance with bookmakers as of Thursday afternoon with The Hamo the $3.40 public elect.

Before heading back to the Glitter Strip for Magic Millions day, the Deagon trainer made the trip out to Kilcoy on Thursday.

Livingstone’s Mighty Judd contested a Ratings Band 0 - 58 Handicap over 1500 metres at Kilcoy.