The Magic Millions 2YO Classic form is expected to again stand up when minor placegetters Candika and Nikitas clash in the Champagne Classic at Doomben.
Nikitas will be having his first start since finishing second to Capitalist in the Magic Millions while Candika, who was third in the Gold Coast race, will be having her second run back in Saturday’s Group Two event.
Capitalist has franked the form by winning the Group One Golden Slipper and several other runners from the Magic Millions have since won races.
Both Nikitas and Candika are being aimed at the Group Two BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes on May 28 and the Group One JJ Atkins Stakes on June 11.
Trainer Steve O’Dea has been pleased with Candika who was third first-up over 1100m.
“It was a good comeback and followed on her jump-out when she was deep the whole way but finished up with some very good horses,” O’Dea said.
“We have been waiting to get her out to 1200 metres and further. There appears to be a lot of pace in Saturday’s race that should let her run home hard.”
O’Dea believes Candika can reap the benefits of a decision to miss the autumn carnivals with her and to concentrate on the winter.
