Joelene, Joelene: Second Subzero for Schweida mare

By Trent Crebbin, Brad Bishop and Danny Matthews 

Kelly Schweida will follow a similar path as last year with talented mare Miss Joelene who will contest the Magic Millions Subzero at the Gold Coast on Saturday. 

The five-year-old mare, who was a $20,000 purchase for the stable in the 2022 National Yearling Sales, has amassed over $1.4 million in prizemoney and will edge past the $2 million mark if she is successful this weekend.

Group 1-placed in the Queensland Oaks as a three-year-old, Miss Joelene went agonisingly close to winning the Subzero last year when finishing third, beaten a neck after having won The Wave the week prior.

Schweida has followed a similar path this year, once again successful in The Wave, which was run seven days prior to Saturday compared to the 14-day gap last year.

"She's had a really good week," Schweida said.

"In each prep she gets a bit better and she's got a pretty good backup record.

"Drawn barrier 11, which is just standard procedure for us. But, couldn't be happier with the way she's bounced back."

Rarely far away, having missed the placings in just six of her past 18 starts, Schweida believes he's figured out how to get the best out of Miss Joelene.

"I just think we're riding her a bit better where she's comfortable," Schweida said.

"Sometimes we used to go a little bit early on her or have her a bit close. 

"I think Cejay (Graham) has gelled the right way with her."

Having carried 56.5kg in last year's Subzero placing, Miss Joelene will meet the winner of that race, Encoder, on the same weight scale with both horses rising 3.5kg, meaning Miss Joelene will carry topweight of 60 kilograms.

"She goes up to 60 kilograms on Saturday, which is always a concern against the better horses," Schweida said.

"I couldn't be more pleased. I wouldn't drop her."

Miss Joelene is rated a $6.50 chance for the Magic Millions Subzero, sharing the second line of betting with Encoder and You Wahng, narrowly behind Sly Boots at $4.80.

Meanwhile, Tony Gollan is following a proven formula with Itchintogo in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast on Saturday. 

A total of six of the past 15 winners of the $3 million Listed feature have raced on the seven-day backup, despite only accounting for just 16% of the total runners.

Itchintogo, who was a $60,000 purchase at the 2025 Gold Coast March Yearling Sales was an easy winner of the Gold Nugget last week.

It was a run that Gollan said he needed to have.

"I'm really happy with him. It was always the plan, the seven-day backup," Gollan said.