Leading Magic Millions contenders Amorino and Angel Of Mercy are poised to give trainer Gerald Ryan a lucrative pay day.
The pair leave Sydney on Monday night bound for the Gold Coast where Amorino is third favourite for Saturday’s $2 million Classic and Angel Of Mercy is third elect for the $1 million Guineas.
Amorino is a son of the Ryan-trained Snitzel who ran third as favourite in 2005.
Ryan rates Amorino, who is unbeaten in two starts, as his best chance since to claim the race but says the barrier draw will be crucial.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained Driefontein has displaced Queenslander Sizzling as favourite but Ryan believes that could change.
“I think they are the three best chances in the race,” Ryan said.
“But the barrier draw will be very important.
“Sizzling has drawn wide at his past two starts and run second but if he draws a barrier then he is a definite chance.
“And Gai’s filly won really well.”
Driefontein beat Sizzling at Doomben on New Year’s Eve, the same day Amorino won at Rosehill.
Amorino’s jockey Jim Cassidy was effusive in his praise for the colt who had to work hard at both ends of the race.
Far from taking too much out of him, Ryan believed the tough effort would be a learning curve.
“He came through it fine,” he said.
Ryan has yet to win a Magic Millions Classic while Cassidy has not won since 1998 when he steered Catnipped to victory.
He also partnered filly Dancer’s Joy in 1990 when the race was run in two divisions.
The jockey turns 49 later this month and has lost none of his competitive edge.
Angel Of Mercy is not yet assured of a place in the Guineas and is also entered for a $200,000 handicap on the day.
The filly shed her maiden status at her third start with a comprehensive victory at Warwick Farm last Monday with Brenton Avdulla aboard.
The David Pfeiffer-trained Safusa is favourite for the Guineas ahead of Happy Hussy who was given a late nomination by trainer David Payne after her win at Rosehill on New Year’s Eve.
Top Drop earned his place on Ryan’s float when he behaved perfectly in an enforced barrier trial on Friday after standing in the stalls when the gates opened for Monday’s Carrington Stakes.
The barrier draw for the Magic Millions Classic will be held on the foreshore at Surfers Paradise on Tuesday morning.
AAP TURF
