Racing: Queensland Government asked to put in $6.8m

BRISBANE - The Queensland Government has been challenged to contribute A$5.48 million ($6.8 million) to the Magic Millions racing carnival to stage the world's richest race.

Magic Millions director, retail giant Gerry Harvey, said the January carnival injected A$51.9 million into the Queensland economy, more than any other Gold Coast event.

"We have invested over A$25 million in the past three years, and over $100 million in the past 10 years, to take Magic Millions to the next level in terms of prestige and profile," he said in a statement.

"However, our aim has always been to be able to justifiably call Magic Millions a world-class event.

"We want Queensland to be home to the ultimate, the world's richest horse race."

Harvey, with Magic Millions co-owners, advertising guru John Singleton, Rob Ferguson and Katie Page-Harvey, will add A$5.48 million to the Magic Millions carnival prizemoney in 2011 if the Government matches the contribution.

Singleton said the richest race in the world was the Dubai World Cup, where the prizemoney would increase from US$6 million to US$10 million in 2010.

The Melbourne Cup would offer A$6 million this year, making it the world's richest handicap.

If the Magic Millions was the world's richest race, Australia would have "the ultimate daily double" in international racing, Singleton said.

"If Magic Millions can generate A$51.9 million for Queensland in 2009, imagine what it will mean to Queensland and the Gold Coast if it was home to the race that stops the horse racing world in 2011," he said.

* Meanwhile Victorian trainer David Hayes reckons he's overdue to win a Magic Millions Classic and hopes a lack of pressure this year could help break the drought in the $2 million feature at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Hayes has two definite starters in Red Belly Black and Ebony Rock in the Magic Millions Classic (1200m) and could have a third runner if first emergency, Tricarico, makes the field.

Hayes has been in the runner-up stall on four occasions in the 1200m Magic Millions Classic and concedes none of this year's trio are in the same class as his previous beaten brigade.

His previous prizemoney earners were Mahaasin (1990), St Covet (1994), Churchill Downs (2006) and Husson Lightning (2007).

"Churchill Downs and St Covet were a grade above this lot and Husson Lightning went into his Magic Millions after winning the Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington."

Hayes rated Red Belly Black, who drew gate six at Tuesday's barrier draw, as his pick over Ebony Rock, barrier two, and Tricarico, 20.

- AAP