MAGIC MILLIONS owner Gerry Harvey celebrated a Christmas bonus when Palacio De Cristal and Parfumier ran the quinella in the Group II Villiers Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Grahame Begg bounced back from the disappointment of the defeat of All Silent in Hong Kong a week earlier when Palacio De Cristal stormed home to win at $6.50 after $12 had been bet in early Fixed Odds markets.

Begg unsuccessfully embarked on a Oaks campaign with Palacio De Cristal in the autumn. “I think the key to her is good tracks and she might be better over the shorter distances,” Begg said.

Co-trainer Wayne Webster took some consolation from finishing second with Parfumier in the $150,000 classic. “It’s never easy to finish second but knowing it is another one of Gerry’s makes it easier to swallow. He puts so much into racing so it’s great to see him get a result like this.”

Begg admitted that Palacio De Cristal had lost her way in the autumn. “After she beat Purple last spring I thought she’s an autumn filly for sure but she was just pulling too hard in the longer races during the autumn,” he said.

Palacio De Cristal come from near last but was helped by the fast tempo set by the Queenslander Rags to Riches. She won by a neck from Parfumier, $9.50, with Spinney, $18, a head away third.

“I knew they’d go hard and that was going to suit her,” Begg said. “I told Peter [Wells] to just be patient because if they go hard they will come back to her and she’s got great acceleration.”

Begg will now give Palacio De Cristal a short break before preparing for another autumn campaign where her main goals will be the G1 Doncaster Handicap and Coolmore Classic.

Jockey Nash Rawiller blamed himself for the defeat of fourth placed Rabbuka. “It was a good run but the same cannot be said for my ride, it was horrible.”