After drawing gate 15, the pre-post favourite Sweet Idea has drifted in betting and at $5.00, sits on the second line of better behind Enquare who will jump from gate 2. He’ll be looking for his fifth win on the trot and his trainer Jason McLachlan, his second MM Guineas in as many years after Saluter took at this race last year. Third favourite and the only other runner under double-figures when markets first opened Tuesday evening, was Norther Glory – stable-mate to Sweet Idea, at $8.50.
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Magic Millions Guineas Form Guide
1. CHARLIE BOY – M. Rodd (16) 58kgs
The Gerald Ryan trained runner was an impressive winner of the G2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington in September when, like he is here in this race, first up from a spell. He has looked good in two barrier trails in preparation for his return off a ten week break, just as he did before the Danehill Stakes. He’ll be ready as far as fitness is concerned and definitely has the class however, the combination of a big weight and wide gate is always a hard one to overcome.
2. INTO THE RED – C Munce (1) 57.5kgs
Made a long sweeping run home on the heavy track when second to Rudy in a 3yo Handicap at Doomben before, on a firmer surface, claiming the Listed Gold Edition Stakes from Choose A Saga as the 9/10 favourite. Last week, the Not A Single Doubt colt carried 59kgs when again starting favourite in an Open Handicap (1200m) here on the Gold Coast. He settled on the speed from a good gate but found the weight a little too much and ran second (1 ¼ lengths) to Flight King. Drawn well again but will find this no easier.
3. GRACIOUS PROSPECT – S Baster (14) 57kgs
David Hayes has this Tale of the Cat colt who, three starts ago and despite having been placed in Listed company more than once, was still a maiden after thirteen starts. The colt finally broke that status by claiming a Geelong Maiden three starts ago and gained good confidence from it given his two runs since, the latest of which was a head win in a RST 78 (1420m) at Flemington. Will no doubt try and lead again but the class and a poor draw will see him accounted for.
4. WOULDN’T IT BE NICE – B Shinn (7) 57kgs
Surprised most when as a 60/1 chance, the son of Choisir won a BM 73 at Rosehill three starts ago when resuming from a spell. He then stepped up in grade and was easily accounted for in a BM 95 at Rosehill (eighth of ten) before a month’s break and lining up at Wyong in the MM 3yo Stakes three weeks ago. Had his chance in the run but was simply no match for Sweet Idea and Weinholt and finished fourth (3.2 lengths). He needs to find plenty of improvement if he is to be turning the tables.
5. WEINHOLT – J Bowman (6) 57kgs
After failing in the G1 Caulfield Guineas, the Peter Moody trained galloper was given several weeks away from the track but indicated by his impressive barrier trail win at Randwick in early December, he was ready to return. The son of Stratum lined up in the Wyong MM 3yo Stakes and was given the run of the race by Bowman as the pair tried valiantly to run down Sweet Idea, failing to do so only by a long neck on the line. Doesn’t have much improvement to make and the draw should be a significant benefit. Goes in as a leading contender.
6. ARCHITECT – B El-Issa (12) 57kgs
The leggy Bel Esprit gelding returned in winning style, railing home along the fence to win an Open 3yo Handicap at Doomben. He then tried to reproduce a similar run in the Listed Gold Edition Stakes at his following start but on this occasion, had no luck in finding the space and finished ninth (2 ¼ lengths) behind Into The Red. He then never made an impression at his next and most recent start when tenth behind Enquare in the Vo Rogue Plate. Hard to catch and would prefer others.
7. SALUTE TO JUDE – D Oliver (19) 57kgs
Robert Smerdon travelled this gelding by Stratum up from Victoria for the Bat Out Of Hell (900m) race here on the Gold Coast last week. Not surprisingly, he found them too slick and finished well down the track (tenth). Best to judge his chances on his previous start, a comfortable 2 ¼ length win in RST 78 at Flemington (1200m) where he come from well back in the field. Will need to come from well back again given he has drawn poorly but cannot see him running this field down in the straight.
8. DALTON – N Berry (20) 57kgs
Started at 40/1 two starts back in the Listed Gold Edition Stakes where from gate one, the Freeze colt secured a lovely run in transit behind the pace, before sticking on solidly to run fourth, beaten less than a length behind Into The Red. Dropping in grade at his following start, a BM 90 at Eagle Farm a week and a half ago, he was a much more fancied betting prospect at 11/2 but never raised backers hopes and finished last of ten. Impossible to have him off of that run.
9. THE BOWLER – C Newitt (9) 57kgs
Winner of two of his ten starts for Tony Vasil, with both of those wins coming on heavy tracks and, in much lesser grade of race. He returned off an eight week break a fortnight ago to run fifth of eight (2.6 lengths) behind Brotherly Secret in a BM 78 (1200m). Whilst he’ll be fitter again for that run, his best chance appears to be hoping for a bog track.
10. SWEET IDEA – J McDonald (15) 56kgs
Smart Snitzel filly from the Waterhouse stable who ran third in last year’s Golden Slipper after claiming the G2 Silver Slipper Stakes. She resumed from a fifteen week spell in the Wyong MM 3yo Stakes where from the inside gate, she jumped to the lead. As the 2/5 on favourite, there were a few moments of concern in the straight as Weinholt mounted a strong challenge but thankfully for punters, she prevailed to win by a long neck. Can only be fitter for that run, has the class as her overall record indicates but will have to be at her best to negate the poor draw.
11. MISSY LONGSTOCKING – M Cahill (17) 56kgs
Returned from a successful Spring campaign in Victoria, where she claimed the G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes, with a third placing (long neck) to Enquare in the Listed Mode Plate. She then started favourite, for the tenth time in her fourteen start career, in the G3 Vo Rogue Stakes. She secured a run behind the leaders but not the gap that she required when the field turned for home and, in restricted room, finished third (1 length) again to Enquare. Never from the action but does take on 1400m for the first a task made no easier by the fact that she’s drawn very wide.
12. ENQUARE – J Byrne (2) 56kgs
After victory in the Listed Mode Plate, the filly by Stratum made it four wins on the trot with another solid performance in the G3 Vo Rogue Plate last start, winning it by ¾ lengths over Gundy Spirit and Missy Longstocking. Jason McLachlan, who won this race last year with Saluter, has this filly flying and perfectly prepared for this race. She makes her own luck in running by taking up a forward position and finds plenty when challenged. Qualities that have and will continue to, take her a long way.
13. BRING A RING – P Robl (5) 55.5kgs
The well travelled filly by Sebring has covered three states this preparation and her start this weekend on the Gold Coast, will make it four. After running fourth in the Listed Lexus Hybrid on Cup Day, the Tony McEvoy trained runner went to Sydney some four weeks later and ran a good third (beaten a neck) in a BM 74 (1300m) race at Rosehill before, at her next and most recent start, claiming a BM 74 (1400m) over Mardi. Going well, has been placed in Listed and Group races in Adelaide and from an astute yard.
14. NORTHERN GLORY – T Berry (8) 55kgs
Preparing for his return to racing off a fifteen week break, the Northern Meteor filly impressed with a 3 ¾ length barrier trial win and was sent out a 11/4 chance for her comeback race three weeks ago at Rosehill. The BM 80 (1100m) event was dominated by front-runner Calming Influence and the Gai Waterhouse runner did well to secure fourth placing, three lengths away. Steps up to the 1400m quickly and for the first time in her career but trainer does it regularly.
15. SPLENDORA – G Golless (18) 55kgs
Made it three from three this preparation with a comfortable 2 ½ length win in a Sunshine Coast Open race three starts back before attempting the better class of races. The Matthew Dunn trained runner finished better than most to run Enquare to a head in the Listed Mode Plate before, in the G3 Vo Rogue Stakes, finding herself three back on the fence from the inside gate and with no luck at all in the straight. Finished fifth (2.2 lengths) but was never tested and should’ve finished a lot closer. Will not got the same run from a wide gate this weekend however and that makes job much tougher.
16. TINTO – T Bell (4) 55kgs
Rex Lipp trains this daughter of Red Dazzler who, when having her fist look at a heavy track resuming from a spell three starts ago, finished well to run fifth behind Rudy. She was better again and on a drier surface when sixth (1.4 lengths) in the Listed Gold Edition Stakes. Off of that run, more was expected from here at her next and most recent start, than the fourth placing she produced at Toowoomba. Likely to struggle here on that run.
17. ESTONIAN PRINCESS – (3) 55kgs (1st Emergency)
Closed well from back in the field to run third behind Sweet Idea and Weinholt in the Wyong 3yo MM Stakes before finally and deservedly, breaking her maiden status last start – start number seven – with a strong 1 ½ length win in a Randwick Maiden. Big jump from a maiden to a race such as this but the Scott Asprey trained filly has her share of ability as indicated by her previous start. If she secures a run, would be capable of running a bold race from a good gate.
18. SHIRAZ ATTACK – (13) 55kgs (2nd Emergency)
Had won two of four this preparation for Trainer Gillian Heinrich before heading into the G3 Vo Rogue Stakes at her most recent start. From a wide draw, the daughter of Oratorio was caught wide throughout but never shirked her task in the straight and ran a credible fourth (1.4 lengths) behind Enquare. Drawn only slightly better here today but doesn’t have a great deal of margin to make up from last start.
19. GUNDY SPIRIT – R Wiggins (10) 57kgs (3rd Emergency)
The Jet Spur gelding has really caught the eye at his last two starts – the Listed Gold Edition Stakes and G3 Vo Rogue Stakes finishing third and second respectively. Getting back in both races, he has produced a strong finished to finished within a length each time of Enquare. As an emergency, needs to be able to secure a start in the field via scratchings but, should that occur, the solid tempo of this race, step up to 1400m and recent form, all suggest he’d be a place chance.
20. NUDE SECRETS – J Stanley (11) 57kgs (4th Emergency)
Resumed off a twenty-four week spell last week in a Gold Coast Open and from mid-field on this turn, he was unable to improve his position and finished seventh of thirteen (3.9 lengths) from winner, Flight King. Too muck improvement required.
21. OUTBACK LIGHTNING – (21) 57kgs (5th Emergency)
Registered his second win at start number nine when, resuming from a spell, the son of Outback Prince won a Sunshine Coast Class 1 (1000m). Jumped straight to Open class at his next start, at the same venue, and was easily accounted for. This race much harder again.
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RACE OVERVIEW
After the barrier draw, a hard race to judge became even harder. Enquare drew well and will be in a prominent position throughout. She’ll face more pressure here than she did last start but does dig deep when required and is proving hard to run down. Sweet Idea is the class runner of the race and the first furlong after the jump will be crucial to her chances. If she finds a handy spot or the lead comfortably, she’ll make her current quote look a very good price. Not much separated here and Weinholt last start so a little surprised to see $10 on offer for the Moody runner – especially when he has drawn more favourably then Sweet Idea. With Bowman on-board, he represent great each-way value and rates on top.
- WEINHOLT
- ENQUARE
- SWEET IDEA