Icarian Dream came up short in last year’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic, but Ciaron Maher is happy to give her another shot at Gold Coast glory.
The daughter of Blue Point will contest this Saturday’s $3 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.
The 1400-metre race will be run 12 months after she finished a 6-1/2-length 12th as a $9 chance in the 2YO Classic, when she started from the outside alley, and while she has a formidable force to contend with in Ninja, Maher is glad to be back with her.
“We were coming to the Gold Coast 2YO (Classic) full of confidence until the barrier draw (when) I think we got 20-something,” Maher said.
“She’s always been a horse with a lot of ability.
“Two starts ago she ran well and it was then we thought, ‘right, we’ll aim up here at this this race’.”
Icarian Dream heads into the Guineas off a third placing, beaten two lengths by last Saturday’s The Sunlight winner Grafterburners, in the Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m) at Eagle Farm on December 20.
That was her second third placing in a row, following unplaced efforts at her first three runs as a three-year-old, after being beaten 2-1/2 lengths by Sheza Alibi in the Group 3 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington on Derby Day.
“She went off and she had a few little growing issues, or soreness issues, and I just feel like her last run and her run prior to that were both full of merit and back to what we originally thought of her,” Maher said.
“I think she’s going very well. She’ll do a piece of work during the week and be right to go.”
Icarian Dream holds down the second of betting in the Guineas, behind Ninja who is a dominant odds-on favourite after his breath-taking win in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate.
Maher also has a strong hand in the $3m 2YO Classic, a race he has won previously with Away Game and Coolangatta, with Tornado Valley and Unit Five towards the pointy end of betting on the 1200m race.
