Early money is coming for the Gai Waterhouse-trained Flamboyant Lass to return to form with an upset win in Saturday’s Magic Millions 3YO Guineas 2016 with the filly settling in well at the Gold Coast.

The three-year-old daughter of Stratum was a top fancy for this summer’s $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) earlier in the season with her last spring run being a brave fifth to stablemate Speak Fondly in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in October.

She blitzed a November 30 trial at the same track before finishing a disappointing first-up eighth beaten five lengths by fellow Magic Millions Guineas hope Flippant in the Wyong Magic Millions 3YO & 4YO Stakes (1200m) on December 17.

Flamboyant Lass had the inside alley for her run at Wyong, but will need to be improving notably after drawing wide with barrier 14 this weekend.

That gate will become 10 if the emergencies fail to gain a run in the capacity 16-starter field, Sydney hoop James McDonald booked for the ride on the Tulloch Lodge representative.

Waterhouse’s stable foreman Mark Newnham admitted Flamboyant Lass’s first-up effort was far from her best, but is confident she’ll be better for the run after she settled in so well in Queensland.

“Gai got to the Coast on Sunday and watched her work,” he told AAP.

“She was pleased with the way Flamboyant Lass went and James McDonald has taken the ride.

“Flamboyant Lass was a bit disappointing at Wyong but she seems to have got over the run without any lingering problems.”

Shooting for her first win since August last year, the filly also won’t be at a disadvantage should the Gold Coast track stay in the Heavy-range as she took out the Warwick Farm race over 1000m on a Heavy (9) course.

“She has won on a heavy track at Warwick Farm and was second in Listed company in the Reginald Allen Quality on a soft track,” Newnham said.

“So the weather would hold no fears for us. The barrier is no help but sometimes being on the fence is no help on wet days.”

Current Magic Millions 3YO Guineas betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au, home of Best Tote or SP + 20% on the full Gold Coast program on Saturday, have another widely-drawn runner Mahuta (20) as the $4 favourite.

Flamboyant Lass meanwhile has been backed in from $15 to $12 to return to winning form.

Darren Weir’s last start Sandown Guineas winner Mahuta has won his past four starts, but is yet to arrive in Queensland after his flight from Melbourne was cancelled on Tuesday night.

He remains stuck in Victoria along with his Magic Millions Cup-bound stablemate Lucky Hussler, Melbourne Cup winning trainer Weir hopeful the duo can get a flight to Brisbane shortly.

“Hopefully they can get out tonight,” Weir told Racing Victoria on Wednesday morning.

“You’re never actually sure until they get away but at this stage it should be fine.”

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