Have the Millions lost their Magic?

The admirable bright assurance accept been replaced by a 'honky tonk' barn party.

The supermodels and Hollywood actresses, too, accept disappeared, authoritative way for the organiser's babe and some flush breed of Australian antagonism dynasties.

But John 'Singo' Singleton, founding ancestor of the Abracadabra Millions, the anniversary Gold Coast horse antagonism extravaganza, says the accommodated has maintained its lustre.

"I don't anticipate that the Millions accept absent any of their magic," Mr Singleton said this morning advanced of the carnival's official barrage tonight.

But there's no abstinent the flavour of this year's carnival has changed. Instead of acclaimed archetypal faces like Pania Rose or Kristy Hinze featured in campaigns past, this year's business actual has Singleton belted by adolescent Millions men Rob Ferguson and Gerry Harvey, with Harvey's wife Katie Paige.

With RM Williams replacing Conrad Jupiters as the arch sponsor, the feel is all of a abrupt actual family, actual country and, though, still glamorous, actual far removed from the amaze of yore.

Replacing the Abracadabra Millions brawl abounding by American starlet Tara Reid in 2007 is a barnyard-themed, invitation-only altercation for 400 mostly corporate, antagonism and political VIPs.

The affected appearance parades and lunches remain, admitting after the big name models appointed to affectation and affair in 2008.

Instead, Friday's Ladies of the Abracadabra Millions aerial tea will be abounding by a army of actual able-bodied groomed, civil aptitude including Kate Waterhouse, Professor Lyle Palmer, Gai Waterhouse, Sally Singleton and Kristie Clements of Vogue.

"We've absolutely quadrupled our absorb on appearance contest this year," Mr Singleton said. "The venues, the locations, they're remarkable.

"And I had a attending at the alehouse we've got for the vendors and buyers and it's aloof amazing staging and theatrics. Outside of the horses and venues, the blow is showbiz."

The Australian announcement administrator said that while there ability not be any headline-grabbing celebrities aureate in for 2010, the calibration of the award-winning money on action accompanying with the calibre of fillies on and off clue accepted there was still abracadabra to the Millions.

As for the future, Mr Singleton said he and the 'family' were abundantly anticipating planned upgrades to the carnival's home at the Gold Coast Turf Club, to accommodate a abode appearance enclosure.

He connected his advance for added government abutment to ensure the all-important advance could be fabricated to accumulate the Abracadabra Millions on the Gold Coast.

"[The Abracadabra Millions] is massive for the Gold Coast and Queensland tourism and we're aloof acquisitive that [the government] will see that," he said.

"There'll never be addition Melbourne Cup but there's no acumen this can't be as big."