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The pinnacle of Queensland two-year-old racing hits the Gold Coast tomorrow with the $2m Magic Millions Classic.
It’s another huge field this year with Bjorn Baker’s hardy colt Unencumbered currently heading the market at $3.50, trying to become the first male winner of the race in five years.
He’s won four of five to this point, and ticks all of the boxes from barrier three. Favourites also have an excellent record in this race.
Despite all that, it’s not quite as clearcut as it may seem.
Oakleigh Girl was game in defeat last start and has the figure to bounce back and win this one.
Invisible is the wildcard up from Sydney, while Stroak and Sagatona weren’t far off Unencumbered in the BJ McLachlan.
The Gai Waterhouse pair of Cyclone and Echo Gal can’t be taken lightly and both Geromayo and Sheer Style are capable of big runs.
Hence, we’re turning to the undercard to find a few winners today.
There’s nothing standing out as a sure thing with such big fields, so we’re banking on the in-form Enquare to run a place at $1.90 in the Guineas.
She’s been absolutely superb this campaign winning all three races, including the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at her last start.
She looked to have maybe hit the lead a bit early in that race two weeks back at the top of the straight, but found plenty to hold them all at bay.
As a sidenote, trainer Jason McLachlan is chasing a second-straight win in this race, after claiming it last year with Saluter.
Her biggest danger looks to be Gai Waterhouse filly Sweet Idea who returned from a bleeding attack with a grinding win at Wyong 23 days ago.
She placed behind stablemate Overreach in last year’s Slipper and there’s no doubting her quality, although the step out to 1400m for the first time must be a concern.
With Charlie Boy scratched, Into The Red and Gundy Spirit look next in line.
Fast forward to the Magic Millions Cup and in-form Queensland mare Doubtfilly has come up as a $23 in a wide-open looking race.
Now I don’t have her on top necessarily but her third placing behind Love Rocks in the Lough Neagh two weeks ago looks very good for this, and there’s a bit of rain around which only enhances her chances.
No doubt there’s a query over her 1400m credentials, but I don’t think they’re too bad.
That Lough Neagh was over 1350m and she was taking ground off Love Rocks late on and he’s emerged as one of the best sprinters of the summer.
With the light weight in a race where there looks to be plenty of speed, she should be running on well and looks an excellent each-way proposition at the price.
Our lay this weekend comes earlier on in the Magic Millions Sprint, where I’m keen to take on resuming Waterhouse runner Whittington at $3.20.
This is only the second time he’s taken on the older horses, the first of which was in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) resuming in September where he was 3.5L off Decision Time beating home just two runners.
He’ll likely find this a bit easier than that Concorde, although there are still some serious sprinters in this field who will give him plenty to think about.
Hidden Warrior has been up for an eternity but ran very well to grab second in the Carrington Stakes on New Year’s Day behind Dances On Stars and that form looks pretty solid for this.
Perhaps even a bigger danger is powerful Brisbane sprinter Excellantes who was narrowly beaten resuming three weeks back by the impressive General Exhibit.
I’m expecting him to sit outside Whittington throughout behind a quick tempo likely to come from Rocket To Glory.
There’s a few too many question marks over the Waterhouse colt so I’m prepared to work around him today.
BANKER: Race 5 No 12 Enquare to place @ $1.90
BET OF THE DAY: Race 7 No 7 Doubtfilly @ $23
LAY OF THE DAY: Race 4 No 8 Whittington @ $3.20