Leading Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse is preparing for a summer assault on the 2012 Magic Millions Racing Carnival at the Gold Coast in January with her promising filly No Looking Back.
Gai Waterhouse could have as many as five runners in the 2012 Magic Millions 2YO Classic next January
The richest and most prestigious of all the Queensland race meetings, the BMW Magic Millions Race Day 2012 will run on Saturday January 14, 2012 featuring a crack nine-race program headlined by the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m).
Restricted to juvenile Magic Millions graduates, the Magic Millions 2YO Classic winners list features many classy gallopers including recent champions Karuta Queen (2011), Military Rose (2010) and Phelan Ready (2009).
Waterhouse will look to add No Looking Back’s name to the honours list in 2012 after the Redoute’s Choice filly claimed a smart win on debut at Warwick Farm on November 19.
Purchased for a hefty $500,000 from the Magic Millions 2011 Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast, No Looking Back carried 57kg to victory with Hugh Bowman aboard, overcoming barrier 10 of 10 to put nearly a length on her closest rival, the fellow Waterhouse-trained Magic Millions graduate Blazing Snitzel, in the Warwick Farm 100 Club Returns 2012 Handicap (1000m).
“No Looking Back did absolutely everything right, she had an outside draw and settled beautifully in second spot and I just loved the way she sprinted at the end of the race,” Waterhouse said.
No Looking Back is bred for Magic Millions success as her dam Mirror Mirror won the classic back in 2006.
There is also the chance that Waterhouse will aim the well-bred filly at the $1 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 26 during the 2012 Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.
“Hugh (Bowman) said she was on her Melbourne leg most of the way,” Waterhouse said of No Looking Back’s debut win.
“I said, well, Blue Diamond here we come.”
Waterhouse could have as many as five starters in the 2012 Magic Millions 2YO Classic field after being without representation in this year’s edition of the lucrative feature.
“We went to Magic Millions and bought what we wanted to,” Waterhouse said.
“We were there without runners and we said we want to have runners next year.
“This (No Looking Back) was the most lovely filly at the sale and we didn’t think we would be able to get her but fought tenaciously and secured her.”
Other $2 million Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic hopes for Waterhouse next year that may make the trip to Queensland include Purrealist colt Pure Hustle who won their debut at Rosehill on October 29, Fastnet Rock filly Driefontein also undefeated having won their sole start to date at Randwick on November 5 by three lengths and a daughter of Red Dazzler Kuchinskaya.
“Everything that is running at the moment is Magic Millions (purchased) and they are going well, which is a change from last year,” Waterhouse said.
“When you have a poor two-year-old it also affects you going forward in their three and four-year-old years, so the signs are good for us so far.”
Waterhouse will by vying for her fourth success in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic having claimed success with Dance Hero (2004), Excellerator (2001) and Assertive Lad (2000).
Nominations for the 2012 Magic Millions 2YO Classic, as well as those for the day’s major support act the $1 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m), close on Friday December 9 followed by the final fields being released on Monday January 9, 2012.
Stay tuned to Races.com.au throughout the coming months for the latest news and updates on the Magic Millions features.
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