In terms of social racedays, it doesn’t get any bigger and better than the Magic Millions Raceday at the Gold Coast, which will take place this Saturday. Eight cracking races, headlined by the $2 Million Jeep Magic Millions Classic (1200m). Tommy Berry has dominated the race in recent years, but will it be his brother Nathan who gets his chance to shine on a stage where the racing world will be watching when he steers Unencumbered? That question will be answered at 3.35PM Local time.
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Race One: Marriott Resort & Spa Magic Millions Maiden 1200m Form Guide
Back Me: As always, the Magic Millions maiden is a tough race to kick off the day. Going for the Sydney gelding Snippets Land (Best Odds: $6.00). He didn’t look comfortable at all racing around the tight Gosford circuit in the run, but once balanced up in the straight, he really let down nicely to finish fourth. The winner of that race, New Divide, came out and won at Kensington during the week, so the form stands up well. Only concern is the barrier, but if Macca can overcome that, then he’ll prove hard to beat.
Big Danger: In Full View (Best Odds: $7.50) has been given a little freshen up since running a close up third to Love Shuttle in a tidy maiden race at Doomben. Has since gone back to the trials and bolted in over 1000m at this track in smart time under a hold. No doubt he has been targeted for this race and looks well placed.
Roughie: Anymore (Best Odds: $41.00) has raced twice in his career, and wasn’t too bad on debut at the Sunny Coast, then really attacked the line late at Ipswich despite wanting to be green in the straight. He has plenty of upside, and could surprise at huge odds.
$250 Snippets Land Free Bet
Race Two: Oracle Magic Millions Stayers Cup 1800m Form Guide
Back Me: In an open race, I’m going for the old boy Pepperwood (Best Odds: $11.00). He has been an absolute beauty for Liam Birchely, winning at least a race in his last several preparations. His form had been ordinary, but he caught the eye in the Bernborough, flashing home after missing the start. Once he finds a bit of form, he goes right on with it, so I’m happy to take him at around the $11 mark.
Big Danger: Hi Son (Best Odds: $7.50) was a pretty impressive winner two back at Doomben, then was caught out in no mans land here last week yet found the line as good as anything behind Mr Light Blue. Senior rider on board now and he loves racing on his home track.
Roughie: Kaypers (Best Odds: $13.00) gets out to a decent trip for the first time this prep. I thought he was pretty good last start at Canterbury behind a potential Group 1 winner in Messene at Canterbury. Drawn terribly here, but if Robl can get him some cover, then his class will carry him a long way.
$250 Pepperwood Free Bet
Race Three: R.M. Williams Magic Millions Quality Handicap 1300m Form Guide
Back Me: Will weight stop the train that is Driefontein (Best Odds: $3.60) here? Personally, she looks one of two good things on the card for me. She couldn’t have trialled any better before her run at Kensington. There, it went all wrong. She didn’t muster any speed from the barriers and settled last. She picked up ground on the inside, but the pace was not strong enough, and she couldn’t run on with the weight. That is the concern, but I think it can be offset by the fact that Tommy is back on board, and he rides the mare better than anyone. He’ll ping her out, she’ll lead, hopefully pinch a sectional, and on class, she’ll beat these.
Big Danger: Had Divine City (Best Odds: $3.25) not drawn so poorly, I’d give her a really good chance of beating Driefontein given how dominant she was in winning the Just Now. Drops to the minimum, and although drawn badly, she can still run a place.
Roughie: Anna Lizzie (Best Odds: $5.00) is a pretty handy local mare who has a booming sprint on her when she has a clear crack at them. She can get herself a touch too far back, but if they go hard in front, she can run on hard late.
$250 Driefontein Free Bet
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Race Four: Myer Magic Millions Sprint 1100m Form Guide
Back Me: Hidden Warrior (Best Odds: $6.00) was enormous when he went down in the last stride to Dances On Stars in the Carrington given how hard he pulled in the run. For him to fight on as well as he did was quite remarkable. Should get an absolute gem run here from the good draw, perhaps outside or on the back of likely leader Lennie’s Choice. Hard to beat.
Big Danger: Whittington (Best Odds: $3.30) definitely has the form on the board. Had two runs back in the Spring for a close up seventh in the Concorde to Decision Time and a third to Barbed in the Heritage. Spelled after that, and went to the trials mid December and looked ultra impressive. He’ll ping over and take some beating.
Roughie: Avaladyluck (Best Odds: $21.00) was the real eye catcher first up behind Seeking More, making up a stack of ground to go down narrowly, despite wanting to lay in quite badly, which cost herself the race. If she races more true here, and gets cover from the barrier, she can right in the mix.
$250 Hidden Warrior Free Bet
Race Five: Gold Coast $1 Million Magic Millions Guineas 1400m Form Guide
Back Me: Sweet Idea (Best Odds: $5.50) on top for me. I loved the way she pinged the ears back first up when she was challenged in the Wyong Magic Millions, but she held them off and on the line, she was getting away from them, so second up at 1400m should be perfect. Barrier doesn’t concern me, as she should get the drag over thanks to the horse drawn inside her Gracious Prospect.
Big Danger: Enquare (Best Odds: $4.60) has been a revelation in recent weeks, winning everything Jason McLachlan has put him in. He really kicked on strongly to win the Vo Rogue at Doomben after sitting outside the speed, which isn’t his go. He prefers to be off the pace and have something to chase, which he should get here. Massive threat.
Roughie: The Bowler (Best Odds: $34.00) is a sneaky first four chance for mine. He was outclassed during the Spring in the top races. Resumed the other day at the Valley and everything went wrong. The saddle slipped, he hung badly, and wanted to be on one rein throughout, so to finish as close as he did was pretty for me. Senior rider on board, and he’ll be up on the pace and giving a great sight. Forgotten horse is Missy Longstocking. Yes, she has been slightly disappointing in two runs back from the Spring, and is suspect at 1400m, but she has class.
$250 Sweet Idea Free Bet
Race Six: Jeep $2 Million Magic Millions Classic 1200m Form Guide
Back Me: I’m quite keen on Unencumbered (Best Odds: $3.80). Look back at recent Magic Millions winners…the common denominator? They are all ready made, professional two year olds. He has taken all before him in three Summer runs, starting off at Kensington, then winning the Magic Millions at Wyong before taking out the Bruce McLachlan, the ideal lead up to this. Drawn beautifully, should get a gun run off the pace, and for me, he is clearly the horse to beat. The only niggle is that he can’t hit the front too soon. If he doesn’t do that, and has held his form, it’ll take a special performance to beat him.
Big Danger: Invisible (Best Odds: $7.00) could not have been more impressive in winning on debut at Canterbury. He bolted to the lead on the turn and looked like he was going to put a gap on them, but like Unencumbered, he stargazed when he hit the front, still learning his craft. He’ll need a bunny to chase in order to win this, and he should.
Roughie: The Liam Birchley pair, Ruby Soho (Best Odds: $21.00) and Sagatona (Best Odds: $13.00), look really professional in the way they go about in their business. But each have their quirks. Ruby Soho hits a flat spot in the run and takes some riding to get going again, while Sagatona can be tardy away. Well, Ruby Soho got the easy kill at Ipswich and has drawn well, while Sagatona was the best run of the beaten brigade in the Bruce McLachlan. She has gone to the trials and looked like a star in the trial. The addition of blinkers have really switched her on.
$250 Unencumbered Free Bet
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Race Seven: Avmin-Air Charter Magic Millions Cup 1400m Form Guide
Back Me: Best bet on the card for me in Velrosso (Best Odds: $3.90). He finished alongside Driefontein in that Kensington race where the speed wasn’t hot enough to allow him to run on. He has been freshened, went to the trials last week and just wow…if you want to see a good trial, watch his last 400m. It was outstanding. Can’t see him getting beat against this lot.
Big Danger: General Exhibit (Best Odds: $5.00) looked in all sorts of trouble last start. It looked as if he wasn’t going to get a run, but once a narrow gap opened up, Larry used all of his nerve and experience to dive through the gap and win. He is a quality galloper in this state, and should be in the finish.
Roughie: Bit surprised to see $12 offered for Number One Gun (Best Odds: $12.00), the horse at the centre of the Glyn Schofield suspension. He trialled on the same morning as Velrosso, and he was also impressive, winning quite comfortably and beating a quality bunch. If he can relax in the run, and save something for the straight, he is a chance in exotics.
$250 Velrosso Free Bet
Race Eight: Sky Racing Magic Millions Plate (Class 6) 1200m Form Guide
Back Me: Looks a lovely race for Gundy Spirit (Best Odds: $2.90), who has been excellent at his past couple in the good three year old races leading up to the Magic Millions. He is third emergency there, but I doubt he’ll gain a run. Dropping back to 1200m is a worry given he gets back and charges home, but he does have a touch of class on his side, and is beautifully placed at the weights.
Big Danger: Target In Sight (Best Odds: $3.85) was given a peach ride by Macca to get the job done on Boxing Day at Randwick, beating a stronger field to what he lines up against here. Drawn awkwardly, but should press forward and prove a tough nut to crack.
Roughie: Nediym’s Quest (Best Odds: $9.00) contested this race last year, and struggled admittedly, but that edition carried much more depth than what he faces here, and he is in better form leading up to it, which includes a tough win at Gosford carrying 59kg. Drops 4.5kg and is drawn to sit back and swoop.
$250 Gundy Spirit Free Bet
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Best Bet: Velrosso (Best Odds: $3.90)
Next Best: Driefontein (Best Odds: $3.60)
Best Roughie: Pepperwood (Best Odds: $11.00)
Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):
Leg One: 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14
Leg Two: 1, 7, 15, 17
Leg Three: 6
Leg Four: 3, 6, 8, 11
$50 Investment= 39.06% of the dividend if successful.
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All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.
In the news:
A check of the record books has boosted the confidence of the Gai Waterhouse stable in its quest for the Magic Millions feature double at the Gold Coast.
Waterhouse is the record holder for both the Magic Millions Two Year Old Classic (1200m) with four previous winners and the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) with two.
She has Cyclone and Echo Gal in the Classic and Sweet Idea in the Saturday’s Guineas.
Sweet Idea had been favourite for the Guineas (1400m) until she drew barrier 15 but will probably start from the 11 gate after scratchings.
Statistics show the gate is far from a disadvantage and could even be an advantage.
At the past seven runnings of the Guineas no winner has come from inside barrier 10.
Also favouring the filly is the fact no favourite has won since 2002 and six previous Guineas winners have won at their lead-in start, as is the case with Sweet Idea.
Stable representative Mark Newnham said Waterhouse didn’t worry about barriers but the statistics were interesting.
“Sweet Idea has the natural speed to overcome a bad alley and Gai has been happy with her this week,” Newnham said.
The Classic is exactly the reverse with nine of the past 10 winners coming from inside barrier 10.
Waterhouse runners have been split with Cyclone having barrier one and Echo Gal 17.
“That statistic probably is a case of young horses not being experienced enough to overcome difficulties,” Newnham said.
He said Cyclone should get a good run from the inside alley and he was the type of horse to win.
Newnham rode one-time favourite Echo Gal in a gallop before stewards last week and the filly, who had thumps after he inglorious run at her last start, has been cleared to start.
“She went well in the gallop and gave me a nice feel. Gai has also been pleased with her. But it will take a top ride from Tommy (Berry) to win,” he said.