The magic millions is the equivalent series for the TBs and the principle race, the magic millions 2yo Classic on the Gold Coast is only a restricted listed race with its around $2million in prizemoney, because of the restricted entry to the race by having to be a sales graduate. The support races around the country funded by the concept carry no additional status but distribute higher then usual levels of prizemoney to supporters of the sale.

It is arguable that without the competition posed by the Inglis sales provide to the Magic Millions sale our best yearlings are sold through the APG sales (if they are sold at all) and the final should carry group status, but it is never the less a restricted entry level race and therefore should not carry group 1 status regardless of prizemoney, and its subsidiary races should not carry group status either.

The homegrown series carrying group 2 status based on its $50k prizemoney with an entry restricted to horses with limited prizemoney is the opposite of what group racing is intended to do, and that is identify and give enduring status for breeding purposes to the best horses, not the best horse in a restricted field. As the Vicbred silver and gold prohibits horses that made the final of the primary series participating, that is the best horses in the series then they shouldn't have group status either. Certainly buyer beware when these horses appear in pedigrees at the sales in the future.

The APG series raise the stakes money for its races from vendors and buyers and this money should principly be returned to those investors through stakes money, not spent on excessive amounts of promotion to draw people through the gate on raceday. Whilst we'd all like to see more people at the races getting them there through other drawcards and social activities on track can be counterproductive as whilst people attracted this way can be good for a clubs bottom line on the day these people rarely become long term investors in racing, and genuine race goers can be discouraged from attending by rowdy crowds not primarily interested in the racing.