After scoring an upset win at Flemington in the $100,000 Fiesta Star Handicap (1200m) on the weekend the odds on the Robert Smerdon-trained Salute To Jude to take out the 2014 Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas next month have come in dramatically.
They jumped a $12 shot in the Fiesta on Saturday and were then paying a juicy $51 to back-up on January 11 and take out the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) in the sunshine state.
Their price in Magic Millions 3YO Guineas betting however has been smashed after the weekend’s race results, the Stratum gelding now at $13 as one of the top fancies in the lucrative restricted showdown.
Having just their sixth career start, Salute To Jude was second-up on Saturday following a first-up second to Lord Of The Sky at Caulfield.
Relishing a step up from 1000m to 1200m in the Fiesta Star Handicap the progressive youngster was ridden by Cox Plate winning apprentice Chad Schofield when taking on a field of older rivals.
They got squeezed at the jump however and had to go right to the back.
It turned out to be a nice spot off the speed however as they bided their time before sneaking up on the inside to move up to the frontrunner Innocent Hero.
With 150m left to travel the lead became Salute To Jude’s and they pulled away for a big two and a quarter length victory over Innocent Hero ($11) as a $12 chance.
“Every time I asked him to go forward, he did so instantly,” Schofield said. ”When I got serious, he really lengthened like a nice horse.”
Finishing off the top three a further three quarters of a length away was then the Mark Kavanagh-trained Oltre Finito ($5.50).
The impressive victory certainly caught the eye of Schofield, the bookies and even surprised their trainer.
“I came here with reservations and didn’t envisage that happening,” Smerdon told the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday.
”It was a pleasant surprise to see him put them away like that.”
That win also elevated them up the order of entry for the Magic Millions Guineas which they were sitting 39th on pre-win.
“He need the prize money to gain a start, but he’s done that now,” Smerdon explained.
“The 1400 metres is something of a query and lots of things have to go right, but it’s a million-dollar race.”
Magic Millions Guineas betting meanwhile is led by the Gai Waterhouse-trained duo of Sweet Idea ($5) and Aussies Love Sport ($5.50).
Snitzel filly Sweet Idea resumed off a three month ban for bleeding with a Wyong Magic Millions 3YO Stakes win last week.
Redoute’s Choice colt Aussies Love Sport, winner of the Group 3 Ming Dynasty over the 1400m at Randwick in September, hasn’t raced since a third to Eurozone in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.
Check out the full Magic Millions Gold Coast Guineas odds online now at Ladbrokes.com.au before markets firm further over the coming weeks and enjoy access to the premier range of summer betting odds and offers.
