A number of exciting Sydney gallopers have confirmed plans to head up to Queensland for next weekend’s 2012 BMW Magic Millions Race Day after successful trials at Rosehill Gardens on Friday morning.
Magic Millions Guineas favourite Safusa enjoyed a winning barrier trial at Rosehill on Friday morning
The most notable of the Gold Coast Magic Millions-bound hopefuls that enjoyed a strong hitout in Sydney this morning was the David Pfieffer-trained Safusa.
Last-start winner of the Magic Millions Wyong 3YO Stakes, Elusive Quality gelding Safusa confirmed their spot at the top of the odds for Saturday week’s $1 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) after an easy trial win over 900 metres.
Latest Magic Millions Guineas betting at Luxbet has Safusa at a quote of $4.80, recent Rosehill winner Happy Hussy the next shortest-priced entry at a quote of $6.
Safusa put one and a half lengths on the Gerald Ryan-trained Road To Summer in the trial for three-year-old colts and geldings working strongly in a time of 53.34 seconds, equal fastest of the morning along with the Hawkes-trained Magic Weekend.
“He does so well between races and Dave (Pfieffer) wanted to give him the trial today to keep him ticking over and blow a few cobwebs out before next week,” jockey Jay Ford said.
“He feels great, he’s bouncing out of his skin and trialled accordingly.
“He trialled really well and everything is looking good for the Gold Coast.”
Another Rosehill trial performer that looks to have booked their Magic Millions Race Day assignment is Gerald Ryan’s Snitzel four-year-old Top Drop.
Top Drop was ordered by stewards to trial after they failed to jump away with the rest of the field before crossing last in their first-up run for the season last Monday at Warwick Farm.
They eventually crossed 18 and a half lengths away from the winner Rain Affair in the Listed Carrington Stakes (1100m), displaying a ‘stallion type’ behavior for the first time in their career.
If they did not show improvement in their trial, Top Drop faced being gelded and missing out on the $330,000 Magic Millions Cup (1400m).
As a three-year-old last season Top Drop was very competitive at the Magic Millions Carnival when third to Torio’s Quest in the MM 3YO Guineas.
After jumping away evenly, racing well and finishing just a half-length away second to Diamond Jim in a 1030 metre trial this morning, Top Drop could now get the chance to face Torio’s Quest on Magic Millions Day again in the Cup.
“He’s passed and he’ll go up to the Gold Coast,” Ryan said.
“We put a barrier blanket on him this morning and he was heaps better.
“He trialled good, in slow time, but Kerrin (McEvoy) said he felt terrific.
“Nash Rawiller will ride him at the Gold Coast.”
The headline event on the Magic Millions Racing program on January 14 will be the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m), and Sydney premiership winning trainer Chris Waller looks to have a strong hand in the event this year after his Lonhro colt Fundido won their Rosehill trial.
Ridden by ace jockey Glyn Schofield, Fundido ran a strong 53.57 over 900 metres putting an easy two and a half lengths on Tim Martin’s unraced Rock Of Gibraltar colt Desert Rock.
“He trialled well today,”Schofield said.
“He had something putting pressure on him the whole way and he wanted to get mobile.
“He’s on track for next week.
“Today we just wanted to make sure he hadn’t lost anything.”
Fundido pays $17 in the latest Magic Millions 2YO Classic odds at Luxbet.
Final acceptances for both the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and 3YO Guineas will be taken on Monday making now the perfect time to jump on the generous pre-field prices available on the races at Luxbet.
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