Madeenaty has reaffirmed her status as the favourite for the $2 million Magic Millions with an all-the-way win in a vital lead-up race at Wyong.
Having her first start in the clockwise direction, the Melbourne filly crossed from a wide barrier in the $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions to lead under Mark Zahra for the training trio of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig.
The $1.90 favourite, Madeenaty had the race in her keeping a long way out and held off a final 200m-sprint by Single Bullet ($10) by a neck.
Madeenaty immediately firmed to from $7 to $4.60 favouritism for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 14 at the Gold Coast with Single Bullet and Wyong third-placed Dinnigan second picks at $8 with the TAB..
“She has great gate speed which is a great asset in a two-year-old,” Ben Hayes told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“It was a very good effort because she did it at both ends.”
Zahra rode the filly at 54.5kg, the bottom of his weight range, but the effort was worth it.
“It was a great win,” he said.
“Especially as I had to ride her at 54-1/2.”
Earlier Egyptian Symbol confirmed her standing as the one to beat in the $1 million 1300m- race for fillies and mares at the Gold Coast meeting by winning the $100,000 Wyong race for three and four-year-olds.
Ridden by Brenton Avdulla, the Bjorn Baker-trained Egyptian Symbol ($1.40 fav) mare decisively beat Madotti by 1-1/2 lengths after racing on the pace all the way.
Egyptian Symbol finished third to Madotti in the Vo Rogue Plate last summer before her third in the $2 million Magic Millions Guineas behind Mahuta and Single Gaze.
“She was unlucky in the Vo Rogue and the 1400 metre Guineas last year,” Baker said.
“We’ve got some unfinished business (in Queensland).
“She’s jumping three lengths better and I did expect her to win today.”
