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2018 Magic Millions Classic Favourite Ef Troop Ready to Win

Lucy Henderson January 5, 2018

2018 Magic Millions Classic Favourite Ef Troop Ready to Win

Brisbane’s Tony Gollan is more confident than ever that his undefeated two-year-old Ef Troop is ready to keep the wins coming Saturday week as favourite in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic 2018.

Tony Gollan

Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan is full of confidence heading into the 2018 Magic Millions 2YO Classic with race favourite Ef Troop. Photo: Daniel Costello.

The well-bred son of former Magic Millions champion Spirit Of Boom showed Gollan a more relaxed and settled attitude on Friday morning in a hit-out at his home Eagle Farm track.

“It was the best he has gone,” Gollan told Racenet.

“I have never seen him relax better.

“He is learning to settle and he didn’t pull or have his mouth open in the jumpout, which I was happy with.”

The performance over 800m with in-form hoop Matthew McGillivray aboard was exactly what Gollan had been hoping for from Ef Troop ahead of the Restricted Listed $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 13.

Leading all-the-way as is the youngster’s style, Ef Troop easily accounted for his rivals including another Gollan-trained Magic Millions Classic-bound hopeful, Spirit Of Boom filly Outback Barbie.

Winner of the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes (1100m) on debut, Outback Barbie ran second in the hit-out with Jim Byrne in the saddle.

Ef Troop currently sits top of the all-in Magic Millions 2YO Classic odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $3.75 after winning his opening two career starts, while stablemate Outback Barbie is listed as a $34 outsider.

His latest turf triumph was a brilliant five and a quarter-length victory at Doomben on December 16 in the Listed $100,000 Phelan Ready Stakes (1100m).

Gollan has purposely kept Ef Troop fresh ahead of his major Magic Millions Race Day assignment and admitted he was relieved to see the horse finally settle better in his Friday trial.

“I love the fact he had started to settle much better because you can’t afford to burn energy in a race like the Magic Millions,” he said.

The official Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic 2018 field is announced on Monday morning making now the time to head to Ladbrokes.com.au for the best futures markets on the potential young runners.

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