This Saturday the Gold Coast Turf Club is set to host their biggest race day of the year as part of the highly anticipated Magic Millions Carnival. The meeting begins with a number of quality events before the track is graced by some truly talented two-year-olds in the richest race of the day, the $2million BMW Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m), scheduled as race seven.
The 2YO Classic is one of two RR status races at the meeting, open only to Magic Millions purchased horses, the other being race six, the $1million Queensland Racing Magic Millions 3YO Trophy (1400m).
Currently heading the betting markets for the coveted sprint at $4.50 is the John O?Shea-trained Ambers Waltz. Due to be ridden by in-form jockey Corey Brown, the favourite has received a horror draw and will have to put in a big effort to cross the capacity field of quality contenders on Saturday.
Meanwhile second favourite, Military Rose ($6) has drawn far better with barrier four and is certain to battle Ambers Waltz for favouritism leading up to the race. Military Rose?s trainer, Gillian Heinrich, is attempting to win the Magic Millions Classic with the first Gold Coast-trained horse since the inaugural winner Snippets in 1987. And considering the excellent recent form of her runner, the General Nediym filly having won her past three starts, and the pleasing barrier draw, she looks a good chance to do just that.
The Tony Gollan-trained Spirit Of Boom (br. 13) is also getting much support from the punters and is sitting at $6.50 following his fantastic victory in the Prelude Plate (900m) over the weekend.
Another locally trained hopeful looking to keep the trophy at the Gold Coast is the speedy Startsmeup ($7). Trained by Bruce Hill, the Danzero gelding had a spectacular win on debut, but only managed to finish third behind Military Rose last start in the B J McLachlan at Doomben. Startsmeup has great gate speed and will need it to overcome his wide draw on Saturday.
Currently a $14 chance for the Classic, Marking Time has secured the coveted barrier one and will start beside David Haye?s outsider Ebony Rock ($31) in barrier two.
A filly not to be overlooked is the Barry Baldwin-trained Demanding Miss, especially considering she has drawn ideally with barrier eight and will start from five if the emergencies do not gain a start. Demanding Miss will be ridden by three times Magic Millions Classic winning jockey Chris Munce.
2010 BMW Magic Millions 2YO Classic Final Field & Barrier Draw:
No |
Horse |
Trainer |
Jockey |
Barrier |
Weight |
1 |
BRIGHTEXPECTATIONS |
Gai Waterhouse | Nash Rawiller | 15 | 56 |
2 |
MUNDI GULLY |
Julie Green | Dennis Whitmore | 18 | 56 |
3 |
JANTZEN |
Helen Page | Jason Taylor | 21 | 56 |
4 |
SPIRIT OF BOOM |
Tony Gollan | Kristy Banks | 13 | 56 |
5 |
MARKING TIME |
Alan Bailey | Glen Colless | 1 | 56 |
6 |
EXTREME MOVER |
Gai Waterhouse | Blake Shinn | 16 | 56 |
7 |
STARTSMEUP |
Bruce W Hill | Paul Hammersley | 19 | 56 |
8 |
EBONY ROCK |
David Hayes | Brad Rawiller | 2 | 56 |
9 |
MILITARY ROSE |
Gillian Heinrich | Stathi Katsidis | 4 | 54 |
10 |
TOUGH LUCK |
Robert Bradshaw | Jim Byrne | 14 | 54 |
11 |
TRIPLE CROWN |
Gary Portelli | Craig Williams | 9 | 54 |
12 |
DEMANDING MISS |
Barry Baldwin | Chris Munce | 8 | 54 |
13 |
AMBERS WALTZ |
John O’Shea | Corey Brown | 17 | 54 |
14 |
RED BELLY BLACK |
David Hayes | Glen Boss | 6 | 54 |
15 |
RINGA RINGA ROSIE |
Bevan & Richard Laming | Michael Cahill | 12 | 54 |
16 |
WANDERING STAR |
Liam Birchley | Brad Pengelly | 11 | 54 |
Emergencies: | |||||
17e |
TRICARICO |
David Hayes | – | 20 | 56 |
18e |
PARIS BLU |
Barry Baldwin | Anthony Pattillo | 3 | 54 |
19e |
MR DE LAGO |
Stephen Jones | – | 5 | 56 |
20e |
POWER OF ED |
Helen Page | – | 10 | 56 |
21e |
CUDDLES FOR NAARA |
John P Thompson | – | 7 | 54 |