Leading Sydney-based trainer Chris Waller has expressed concerns over how his 2012 Magic Millions Classic hopeful Fundido will handle the horror gate 16 they received at yesterday’s barrier draw.
Chris Waller hopes Fundido can overcome a wide barrier in the 2012 Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast this Saturday
One of a capacity field of two-year-olds engaged to face off in the $2 million BMW Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast this Saturday, nicely-bred Lonhro colt Fundido will have plenty of work to do from their disastrous double-digit draw.
“It is not what we had hoped for, you don’t like to draw bad in big races, especially at the Gold Coast,” Waller admitted.
A Rosehill winner on debut back in early December, Fundido was disappointing last start when finishing three lengths away fifth to Epulette in a 1200 metre 2YO Handicap on Boxing Day.
Showing they were capable of bouncing back the youngster enjoyed a strong barrier trial win over 900 metres at Rosehill on January 6.
“His trail last Friday suggests to me he has improved and I think the winkers certainly worked,” Waller said.
They currently pay $15 in the Magic Millions Classic odds at Luxbet, but Waller knows they face a tough test from out wide in a field full of frontrunners including $3.20 favourite Driefontein (barrier three).
“The plan would have been to go forward anyway, now we will just have to go forward and look for cover because you could imagine there will be lots of speed inside,” Waller said.
Waller is vying for his maiden MM Classic win with Fundido, as is the horse’s jockey Glyn Schofield.
Fundido will come into barrier 13 if all five emergencies don’t get a start in the race, still a far from ideal draw for the lightly-raced MM graduate.
Adding to Waller’s woes about the Magic Millions barriers is the fact that only one Magic Millions Classic winner in the past 10 years has jumped from a double-digit gate with Mirror Mirror from barrier 15 back in 2006.
Waller had better luck in the barrier draw for the $1 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) with his Stratum gelding Subarc drawing barrier seven, the same gate the jumped from last-start on December 31 when a close third to Cindarockinrella over 1200 metres at Rosehill.
Magic Millions Guineas 2012 betting is led by Safusa ($4) who came up with barrier two, while Subarc is rated a $7.50 chance through Luxbet.
“He is a horse that has a tendency to begin slowly so drawing a good barrier is ideal because if he is a little slow he won’t lose too much ground,” Waller said of Subarc.
“The Gold Coast is not a track that would generally suit a horse like him, he gets back and hits the line strongly but there is generally good speed and the step up to the 1400 metres is perfect.”
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