Trainer Noel Doyle has had a good deal of success over the years and is now hoping for a slice of the Magic Millions action with Celtic Dancer following the three-year-old’s victory at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Doyle, who trained former stars Kinjite, Stylish Century and Don't Play, was as excited as ever when Celtic Dancer upstaged his rivals for a 1-1/4 length win over Liesele in the Coastal Tipper Hire QTIS Three-Years-Old (1200m).

The Choisir gelding started at the massive odds of $51 but never looked in danger of defeat after sharing the lead with the Gillian Heinrich-trained favourite Audacious Spirit, who weakened to finish fourth.

Ready To Rip also turned in an eye-catching effort to finish third.

Doyle is hoping some of last year’s hometown luck will now rub off when Celtic Dancer steps up in distance to 1400 metres in the $1m Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast on Saturday week.

The Gillian Heinrich-trained Military Rose gave locals plenty to cheer about 12 months ago when the filly won last year’s Magic Millions Classic.

Doyle, 68, believes the penny has only just started to drop with Celtic Dancer who took his record to four wins from seven starts.

Celtic Dancer has missed prizemoney only once in his career when a disappointing 12th to Liesele in the Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m) at Doomben at his previous start on December 18.

“I just put it down to bad luck last start,” Doyle said.

"I said we've just got to forget about it. We knew he was a better horse than that.

 "Once he got to the front and was travelling I thought they're going to have trouble running him down."

Doyle conceded he had some reservations about Celtic Dancer handling the heavy track after it was downgraded earlier in the day.

“I knew he could handle dead to slow but beyond that we didn't know but he went through it like a bird,” he said.

Winning jockey Joe Bowditch has no doubt Celtic Dancer will handle the extra trip in the Magic Millions Guineas.

Racing Queensland Web News:

Photo: Graham Potter