Feature race of the day is the running of the $2M Magic Million 2yo Classic. After drawing the inside gate and having won both of her starts in good style, the Clarry Conners trainer Assail is the favourite at $2.80 with only two other runners Clevadude ($4.00) and Missy Longstocking ($8.00) behind under the double figures.
Special Offer: $500 FREE BET – Luxbet (Tabcorp owned)
Special Offer 2: $450 FREE BET – IASbet (Recommended Bookmaker)
Special Offer 3: $250 FREE BET – Sportsbet (Recommended Bookmaker)
Magic Millions 2YO Classic Form Guide
1. SIR LUMINAR – J Bowman (16)
Impressive winner on debut of the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes (1000m) before settling on pace from his wide draw and weakening late to run sixth (beaten 6.9 lengths) behind Miss Longstocking in the G3 Bruce McLachlan (1200m) last start. Drawn wide again here and will have his work cut out for him.
Odds: $26.00
2. CHANGE OF HONOUR – M Rodd (2)
Started 15/4 favourite on debut in a Ballarat Open but could only manage fourth of seven (beaten 5 ¼ lengths) but that didn’t deter punters and again he was sent out favourite, this time at Caulfield were he duly saluted by ¾ length over Register. Drawn well here and Rodd, who has ridden him at both starts to date, sticks with him.
Odds: $34.00
3. CLEVADUDE – C Newitt (18)
The son of Bel Esprit has won both of his starts to date in impressive fashion. The first was at Cranbourne by 3 ½ lengths then two weeks later, this time by 4 ½ lengths at Moonee Valley over The Yowie. His trainer, Rick Hore-Lacy has always had wraps on this horse and he’s had a few good 2yo’s to compare him to. He was vying for favouritism with Assail until the barrier draw has seen his price drift to $4.00.
Odds: $4.40
4. TICKET TO TOORAK – J Mott (12)
Won by a neck on debut at Ballarat on a Slow track on the 1st of November last year before running three lengths second to I’m Too Sexy in a Ballart Open three weeks later (Change of Honour ran fourth). Hasn’t been seen at the races since but expecting him to find a few here too good.
Odds: $67.00
5. CHOOSE A SAGA – E Wilkinson (15)
Led and kicked clear to win by 4 ½ two starts back at Eagle Farm before running sixth of nine (beaten 2.2 lengths) behind Global Dream at the Gold Coast New Year’s Day. Has been handy to the speed in all of his five starts to date but will have to do too much work from the wide draw if he’s to keep to that pattern.
Odds: $41.00
6. GRACIOUS PROSPECT – C Schofield (9)
Ran third to I’m Too Sexy and Ticket To Toorak three starts back before running into the smart Champagne Cath (second, beaten 3 ¼) at Rosehill and being safely held by Assail in the Wyong Magic Millions where he finished sixth (beaten 5.7 lengths). It would require too much improvement from him to win here.
Odds: $67.00
7. MISSY LONGSTOCKING (5)
Unbeaten Sequalo filly who did what she only had to do two starts back when winning the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes by ¾ length over Marcoola before getting a lovely ride and run in transit in the G3 Bruce McLachlan Stakes, beating Sweet Idea by 1 ¼. Can’t knock her record and again, drawn to get the sweet run just off the speed.
Odds: $7.00
8. ASSAIL – C Williams (1)
Good style of win on debut at Warwick Farm back in November and was giving a few weeks off before winning the Wyong Magic Millions on the 20th December by a comfortable three length margin. Led and was simply too quick for them last start. Has drawn the ideal gate and will be prominent for a long way.
Odds: $2.80
9. I’M TOO SEXY – L Currie
Impressed with a three length win on debut back in late November, accounting for Ticket To Toorak, Gracious Prospect and Change of Honour before venturing north for the G3 Bruce McLachlan Stakes and as leading chance at 4/1, failed to make an impression and finished second to last behind Miss Longstocking. It would be some kind of form reversal as there appeared to be no excuses for her last start.
Odds: $67.00
10. SWEET IDEA – J McDonald (13)
Gai Waterhouse trained filly who won on debut at Randwick back in late October and followed that up with a second to Criterion as 9/10 Fav at Rosehill before she was given a month off. Resumed in G3 Bruce McLachlan Stakes at Doomben and had to work early to secure the lead which made her vulnerable late in the race, when claimed by the undefeated Missy Longstocking. Better for that run but unfortunately the barrier draw hasn’t been kind.
Odds: $17.00
11. REAL SURREAL – M Cahill (3)
Has produced big finishes at each of his three starts thus and came from eighth on the turn last start to post an impressive 3 ¼ length win over Dalton at Eagle Farm last week. Unlike most of his competitors, she wont be keen to take up a forward position and will be happy to bide his time before making one dash at them – the race could be very much set up to her liking.
Odds: $10.00
12. CERTITUDE – T Berry (19)
Very strong on debut, winning by five lengths at Rosehill but little went right at her next start in the Wyong Magic Millions. She was slowly away and then blocked for a run whilst Assail, who led, was skipping away but unfortunately, from her horror draw, that may be the case again.
Odds: $17.00
13. GREYTFILLY – R Wiggins (7)
Ferocity filly who has had four starts for her trainer Rob Heathcote. Although running second, she beat home Real Surreal two starts back and finished well but not well enough next time out, finishing second to Global Dream at the Gold Coast. Would’ve liked to have seen her win last start before putting her among the leading chances in this race.
Odds: $12.00
14. GLOBAL DREAM – G Colless (14)
Sat third and just held her position in the run to the line when first up fifth of ten (beaten 3.1 lengths) behind Miss Longstocking in the Calaway Gal Stakes before producing a big finish to beat Greytfilly and Choose a Saga on the Gold Coast New Year’s Day. She’ll enjoy the helter-skelter of this race and is not to be underestimated.
Odds: $34.00
15. PURRIFIC – SCRATCHED
16. CALCATTA – D Dunn (20)
Dwayne Dunn in not unfamiliar with winning feature 2yo races, having won four Blue Diamonds but will find his task aboard this Robert Smerdon trained filly, a hard one – especially with barrier 20 to contend with. She narrowly won a restricted race on debut but found the step up to Open class at Caulfield, too great of a challenge and she finished 3 ¼ lengths behind Montsegur.
Odds: $41.00
17. ARCHITECT – A Erhart (6)
First emergency but will get a start with the scratching of Purrific and that’ll please connections going by his last start third (beaten 1.6 lengths) to Miss Longstocking in the Bruce McLachlan Stakes. Big run last start, making up good ground late but hard to tip a horse to break its maiden status in a race like this.
Odds: $31.00
18. HE’S A LADIES MAN – (11)
He’s won two from three with the wins coming in Townsville and Cairns in October of last year. Found it much tougher when competing last week at Eagle Farm and finishing sixth (beaten 6 ¼ lengths) behind Real Surreal.
Odds: $101.00
19. MADAME FLY – (8)
Won two starts back at Warwick Farm beating Frill Seeking who finished third (and subsequently ran second to Assail in the Wyong Magic Millions) before finishing fourth (beaten 2 ¼ lengths) behind the smart Dothraki at Canterbury three weeks back.
Odds: $101.00
20. ROCKFORD – (17)
Was only a head off winning the Listed Superracing Stakes at Flemington in October last year on debut before being given a freshen up of ten weeks and returned as 4/13 on favourite in a Gosford Maiden, only to run third (beaten 3.6 lengths).
Odds: $61.00
21. MOROCCAN ROSE – (21)
Will need another four scratchings to occur for her to get a start and then the real challenge of negating barrier twenty-one begins!
Odds: $101.00
OVERVIEW
Assail was impressive winning the Wyong Magic Millions, has drawn well and those that can take up a prominent position or lead, do tend to fair well around this circuit so it’s hard to knock her chances – but $2.80 is short enough. Looking for a better price, I think Missy Longstocking – who should get a lovely run and has won four from four, represents great each-way value at the $8.00 mark similarly, Real Surreal – who can produce a big finish, should enjoy the pace being on from the word go and at $10.00, I’d be prepared to say he can be in touch on the turn. Best long-shot – Architect.
