Horse Racing

The official BMW Magic Millions 2YO Classic 2012 field of acceptances has now been released by Racing Queensland, a capacity line-up of 16 starters plus five emergencies engaged for the feature event of the Gold Coast Magic Millions Race Day this Saturday.

Bruce Hill's recent Gold Coast winner Lady Colours has made the 2012 Magic Millions Classic field for Saturday

Six last-start winners are engaged to face off in this year’s $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m), including the Bruce Hill-trained Lady Colours who, after a tense wait, easily slipped into the field.

The Red Dazzler filly displayed her MM potential when running away to win the Magic Millions Tickets Handicap (900m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday by a commanding two and a half lengths over fellow Magic Millions Classic acceptor Little Critter.

Previously sitting 24^th on the Magic Millions Classic order of entry, her win and the non-acceptance of a number of horses higher up the ballot than her including Paul Perry’s Wyong 2YO Classic runner-up Hidden Warrior and Breeders Plate winner Pierro, saw Lady Colours officially come in as horse No. 14 in the field for Saturday.

Although accepted for, Hill said that he would not run Lady Colours on Saturday if she didn’t come through her most recent run 100 percent fit.

“She’s not going to run just for the sake of it,” he said.

“She’s too good a filly to send around if she’s not right.

“She’s tough…I just want to make sure she comes through this OK first.”

Yet to race over a distance greater than 1100 metres, Hill expected Lady Colours to be at her peak distance stepping up to the 1200 metres on Saturday.

“The 1200 metres is what she wants,” he said.

“She’s crying out for it now.”

Lady Colours is rated a $26 chance to win the Magic Millions Classic through Luxbet.

As expected, three-time Magic Millions Classic winning trainer Gai Waterhouse will be dually represented in this year’s edition with Luxbet favourite Driefontein, to be ridden by Tommy Berry who won the race aboard Karuta Queen 12 months ago, and well-bred Redoute’s Choice filly No Looking Back, a Nash Rawiller mount.

Winner of her sole career start to date, No Looking Back is one of just two juveniles in the Magic Millions Classic field this year out to defy history and become the first Magic Millions Classic winner to take out the race at just their second career start.

The other runner that comes into the clash on the back of just one career run is the John O’Shea-trained Hoss Amor.

A daughter of 1997 Magic Millions Classic winner General Nediym, who has gone on as a sire to produce two subsequent champions in the feature with Regimental Gal (2003) and Military Rose (2009), Hoss Amor enjoyed a promising win on debut in the Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic (1100m) back on December 22.

Following Driefontein in the Magic Millions Classic odds are the Kelso Wood-trained local Brisbane galloper Sizzling and Gerald Ryan’s Sydney visitor Amorino.

Other notable MM Classic contenders for 2012 include David Lawlor’s Phelan Ready Stakes winner Noogoora Burr, General Nediym colt Travino out for their fourth straight win after three on the trot including back-to-back stakes victories in New Zealand, and the Mark Kavanagh-trained Alezan Thunder coming off a four length win at Sandown over 900 metres on December 24.

Meanwhile Clarry Conners’ Dehere filly Dear Demi needs just one scratching from the field to earn a start as the first emergency.

Stay tuned to Races.com.au throughout the week for our exclusive 2012 Magic Millions Classic betting form and tips, and the barrier draw to take place live on Tuesday morning at 8am (QLD time) from Surfers Paradise.

In the meantime check out the latest markets on the Magic Millions Classic and the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, the field for which was also released today, at Luxbet.

Luxbet are the leaders in horse racing and betting on the net, so sign up with them today to experience the difference starting with a generous $400 bonus bet on the house when you deposit and enter the codeword BONUSBET when prompted!

2012 BMW Magic Millions Classic Final Field