2023 PB Lawrence Stakes Results: Cox Plate Hope Mr Brightside Salutes First-Up
Betting | Horse Racing Today | News | Race Results | Spring Racing | Winter Racing |The Ben, Will & JD Hayes-trained Cox...
Sydney’s Bjorn Baker is hoping his surprise Magic Millions Classic contender Goodfella can make a big impact during the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival culminating with a run in the JJ Atkins 2017 in June.
Baker was tipped to enjoy a killer pay day at the Gold Coast saddling-up short-priced fancies Winning Rupert and Egyptian Symbol in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas and Magic Millions Fillies & Mares respectively.
Neither horse got the job done however with Egyptian Symbol under two lengths beaten for sixth behind the winner Private Secretary and Winning Rupert the same margin back fourth behind upset $101 winner Flying Jess in the $2 million Guineas.
Another standout on the card for Baker though was Goodfella who ran a brave but luckless fourth in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic behind Houtzen as a $17 shot.
A son of Snitzel, the progressive colt has won just one of his six career starts to date back in mid-December on a wet Canterbury track over 1200m.
He then went to Eagle Farm for the solid second to Ours To Keep in the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) leading into the Magic Millions Classic test.
“I thought he ran really well,” Baker told Racing Victoria.
“I was surprised he got so far back. That wasn’t my intention at all but he ran on well.”
Having performed better than expected in the Sunshine State, Baker plans to bring the galloper back to Brisbane over the winter with the $600,000 Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 10.
Goodfella will head towards the Group 1 on Stradbroke Handicap Day via the traditional lead-up races with runs in the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m) at Doomben on May 13 and the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1350m) a fortnight later.
“He’ll probably come back for the Brisbane two-year-old series – the Champagne, the Sires’ Produce and the JJ Atkins,” Baker added.
Baker also ruled out a Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival bid for his Magic Millions Guineas flop Winning Rupert who was unbeaten in five runs leading up to his weekend loss.
“No, he’ll take a good break,” he said.
“He’s just come back to Warwick Farm and I had a good look at him and he needs a good break.
“He’s been up for a fair while. What we could look at is Brisbane over the winter.
“I don’t think he was at his best on Saturday. He’s definitely better than that.”
Stay tuned to Races.com.au for all the latest on the upcoming autumn and winter Group 1 races and for the best odds on all the features head to Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
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