Assail has been promoted to Magic Millions favouritism over Clevadude ahead of Tuesday’s barrier draw for the summer’s richest race.
The Clarry Conners-trained filly firmed from $3 equal favourite to $2.80 on Monday after the declaration of the final field for the $2 million race for two-year-olds at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Both Assail and the Rick Hore-Lacy-trained Clevadude are unbeaten from two starts with Conners hoping the filly’s experience being trained in the anti-clockwise direction will give her an advantage over her Melbourne rival.
Craig Williams took time out from a short summer break to work Assail between races at Warwick Farm on Saturday before their Gold Coast assignment.
Full fields of 16 plus five emergencies were declared on Monday for both the Magic Millions Classic and the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) for three-year-olds.
Sizzling remains the TAB’s $3.80 favourite for the Guineas ahead of Driefontein ($5.50), winner on protest of the 2012 Classic.
Lucky Hussler, who conquered Sizzling in the Group Three Vo Rogue Plate, is at $6.50 alongside Driefontein’s Gai Waterhouse-trained stablemate No Looking Back, first past the post in last year’s two-year-old race.
Williams, who replaces the suspended Peter Robl on Assail, is the new rider for Sizzling with Chris Munce beginning treatment for cancer.
The barrier draw for the Classic will be held on Tuesday.
