Magic Millions Trophy 2018 Field & Betting: Top Two Hard to Split

Two horses in a capacity field are battling for top spot in 2018 Magic Millions Trophy betting with Payroll and Sedanzer installed as co-favourites for the Gold Coast clash on the weekend.

In-form mare from Sydney Sedanzer is a top fancy in 2018 Magic Millions Trophy betting for the Gold Coast on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.

Running as the Gold Coast Race 4 at 1:25pm (AEST) on Saturday’s $10 million Magic Millions Race Day, this summer’s $1 million Magic Millions Trophy (2200m) features a field of 16 confirmed runners plus three emergencies.

The latest Magic Millions Trophy odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have both the Richard Laming-trained mare Payroll and the in-form Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained daughter of Sebring Sedanzer as the equal $3.40 top fancies.

Payroll is drawn gate 10 with leading interstate hoop Damien Oliver booked to ride the Cranbourne-based Not A Single Doubt five-year-old.

A winner of her past two on the trot with a Group 3 Sandown win in November and a lead-up victory at Caulfield on Boxing Day in the Listed Lord Stakes (1700m), Payroll has her second Gold Coast run this Saturday.

Brought on fitness-wise with a smart piece of work at the Gold Coast track that impressed Laming earlier in the week, Payroll returns to the course under race conditions in the Magic Millions Trophy 2018 after a third in the same race 12 months ago.

This year she is up to 57.5kg after her nice form since, which is still a half-kilo drop from her 58kg winning weight in the Lord Stakes.

The big danger that gets in on just 54kg from a gun barrier three draw is Sedanzer who is yet to win over further than a mile.

That hasn’t stopped the bookies tipping the up-and-comer from saluting over 2200m at the Gold Coast, going one better than a last start second when narrowly beaten at Gosford on December 28 in the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m).

Prior to that Sedanzer posted three Sydney wins on the trot and she will relish coming back from 59kg last time out.

Outside the two key players just one other Magic Millions Trophy contender is listed under $10 for the win with Black On Gold ($9.50).

Dual and reigning Melbourne Cup winning hoop Corey Brown partners the Chris Waller-trained Sebring four-year-old who is out to atone for a last start eighth on December 26 at Randwick in the Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m).

Black On Gold is yet to race at the Gold Coast and hasn’t won since Rosehill’s Topaz Preview (1800m) in early November, but has early support in betting.

In an open field there could be value further down Gold Coast Magic Millions Trophy betting this season with roughie hopes including Summer Cup winner Testashadow ($11) who won last year’s Magic Millions Cup and early market mover Feltre ($21 into $17) prepared by Brisbane’s Brian Smith.

See below for the full Magic Millions Trophy 2018 field, barriers and latest Gold Coast racing odds provided by Ladbrokes.com.au.