Connections of the two favourites for the 2018 $2m Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday are hoping for a middle of the field barriers when the draw is conducted on Tuesday.
Trainer Tony Gollan, above, puts the finishing touches on Magic Millions 2yo Classic favourite Ef Troop. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Unbeaten Tony Gollan trained two year old Ef Troop is the winner of both his race starts and rounded off his Magic Millions preparation with an impressive win in an 800m jump out at Eagle Farm last Friday and his regular rider Matthew McGillivray is looking from a marble between four and nine in the final sixteen horse field.
“Between four and nine would be all right. I’m happy to draw a bit wider because he’s got good gate speed. He can muster quickly and has a high cruising speed,” McGillivray told The Courier-Mail.
“I just hope there’s not too many inside that have a tonne of speed and can hold me out.
“I’m pretty confident he can cross them and even if there’s one that goes pretty hard, I think he can take a sit, because he’s relaxing pretty well now.”
Ef Troop is currently the $4 favourite for the Magic Millions 2yo Classic at Ladbrokes.com.au, holding a slight advantage over the Tony McEvoy trained filly Sunlight at $4.20.
South Australian based trainer Tony McEvoy is hoping for a similar result for Sunlight at the barrier draw on Tuesday.
“In these big pressure cooker races if you draw one you’re in there for a long time and if you step a neck slow you’re in trouble,” McEvoy said.
“If you draw wide out you have a lot of work to do, so a single figure barrier somewhere will be lovely.”
Ef Troop is the winner of both his race day appearances with a debut win in a 1050m two year old Handicap at Doomben on November 4 followed by a win in the Listed $100,000 Phelan Ready Stakes (1110m) at Doomben on December 16.
Sunlight was beaten into third place at her first race start behind Nomothaj and Ranier in the Listed $120,000 Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on October 7 but has won her next two starts at the Gold Coast, including a four and a half lengths victory in an 1100m two year old Handicap last Saturday.
Now is the time to head to Ladbrokes.com.au for the best futures markets for the 2018 Magic Millions 2yo Classic.
Latest betting for the 2018 Magic Millions 2yo Classic at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4 Ef Troop, $4.20 Sunlight, $5 Jonker, $13 Bondi, $17 Meryl, Nomothaj, Secret Lady, $21 Quackerjack, $26 Legislation, Outback Barbie, $34 Anthemoessa, Fullazaboot, $41 Crockett, Witherspoon, $51 Skyray, Terminology, $67 Paquirri, Whiskey Shooter, $201 Veranes.
