Queen Tara Leads 2017 Magic Millions Country Cup Field & Odds

Toby Edmonds’ locally-trained mare Queen Tara is the early market mover in Magic Millions QTIS Open 2017 betting to post a home track win at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Jeff Lloyd rides the 2017 Magic Millions Country Cup betting favourite Queen Tara at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Photo: Daniel Costello.

The second of nine Magic Millions races taking place on the $10 million race day this weekend, the $250,000 Magic Millions Country Cup (1200m) features a full field of sixteen gallopers including Edmonds’ last start Brisbane winner.

Queen Tara is drawn a treat for Saturday in gate five with Jeff Lloyd retaining the ride after he guided her to an impressive all-the-way victory over the same metres at Eagle Farm on January 2.

A four-year-old daughter of Northern Meteor, she returns to the Gold Coast track for just the second time having won here back in July last year.

Getting in on the 54kg minimum is also a big plus, a drop from her 56.5kg winning weight last time out, and the bookies are taking no chances as Queen Tara pays $3.40 and firming at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Second favourite in the Magic Millions Country Cup odds this summer at $5 is Upstart, to be ridden by Ben Melham from gate seven.

Newcastle’s Kris Lees trains the progressive Starcraft four-year-old who has won four of his thirteen career starts to date.

He hasn’t won since May, when carting a hefty 61kg to victory, and comes off a brave second at home over 1150m from Boxing Day under 58kg.

The four kilo drop in weights will boost his chances in the Magic Millions Country Cup, the step up in distance is also a plus and second-up he’ll be improving.

Two other contenders are under $10 for the win with the 59kg top weight Irish Constabulary ($7) and Red Scarlet ($9) who chases a fourth consecutive win.

The John Symons & Shelia Laxon-trained veteran Irish Constabulary may be a rising nine-year-old, but he lines-up for just his seventeenth career run on Saturday.

Based at the Sunshine Coast, the Flying Spur gelding was last seen enjoying a sixth career victory on January 4 at home over 1000m on a Heavy (9) track.

He gets back up to his preferred distance on Saturday, the galloper boasting three wins and two seconds from seven 1200m runs to date, but needs to handle the big weight and wide gate (14 of 16).

Red Scarlet is also drawn in double-digits (11), the Helen Page-trained flyer a Gold Coast specialist who will benefit from the booking of champion jockey Craig Williams.

A three-year-old son of Red Dazzler, the local gelding has had five runs at the course for an impressive four wins and a second so based on location is the one to beat.

His last start produced a one length win over 1400m in a Benchmark 70 on December 17 under 56kg and he drops in both weight to 54kg and distance this weekend.

See below for the official Gold Coast Magic Millions Country Cup 2017 field, barriers, jockeys, weights and latest Fixed Win odds provided by Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Enhanced Odds this weekend (T&Cs apply).