Saturday’s clear race favourite Coolangatta has drawn wide with barrier 13 as the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained filly looks to retain her undefeated record in the $2 million The Star Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast.
Undefeated filly Coolangatta is clear favourite to win the $2M The Star Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.
A full field of young two-year-olds face off in this season’s edition of the Restricted feature and markets at Ladbrokes.com.au are firmly led by dual Group 3 winning Written Tycoon filly Coolangatta.
Winner of the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) by over three lengths on debut at Randwick last October, the up-and-comer enjoyed a second Black-Type victory on Boxing Day in Brisbane.
Coolangatta had over two lengths to spare on the line at Doomben in the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) with jockey James McDonald now chasing a third victory from as many starts aboard her in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on Saturday.
Unencumbered (2013) was the last juvenile to complete the B.J. McLachlan Stakes – Magic Millions 2YO Classic double and the latest markets have Coolangatta at $2.05 to be the next on the weekend.
The short price is despite the filly drawing wide with gate 13 at Tuesday morning’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic barrier draw, which will become 10 should all emergencies fail to gain a run.
Co-trainer Maher was pleased with the favourite’s starting position describing it as “perfect” post-draw on Tuesday morning.
Capitalist (2016) was the last Written Tycoon progeny to win the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and was prepared by Peter & Paul Snowden.
This summer the Snowden stable return chasing a second victory with Saturday’s $6 second elect Russian Conquest, a daughter of Russian Revolution.
The bonny bay has won both her career starts with a victory in November’s Max Lees Classic (900m) at Newcastle followed by a Randwick Boxing Day success by over three lengths over 1100m.
She jumps from a favourable barrier four draw at the Gold Coast with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.
Four of the past five editions of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic have been won by fillies with Chris Waller’s Shalaa colt Shaquero (2021) breaking the girls’ dominance last year.
While Waller is without a contender in this year’s event, last season’s winning jockey Hugh Bowman could chase another victory potentially partnering the Annable Neasham-trained first emergency Swiss Exile who is drawn the inside alley.
Neasham also has her Not A Single Doubt filly Soaring Ambition ($11) in the mix, the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner suffering an early blow with a wide gate 20 draw.
The other $11 third pick in the current markets is another filly representing Team Snowden, Miss Hellfire having run second in the Wyong race before a Gold Coast victory last weekend over 1100m.
Beaudesert horseman Les Ross has three confirmed starters in the field plus the second emergency Spanish Angels, his contingent led in betting by undefeated Husson gelding Mishani Spartan in gate three coming off a Gold Coast win from January 8.
The other Ross-trained acceptors are the widely-drawn Mishani Persuasion (21) and Mishani Warfare (7).
Star young New Zealand horseman Jamie Richards meanwhile will be thrilled to have a starter with his Fastnet Rock filly Bright Blue Sky, last seen running fourth to Coolangatta in the B.J. McLachlan, sneaking into the field with saddlecloth number 16.
The spring’s Caulfield Cup winning hoop Brett Prebble is booked to ride Bright Blue Sky from barrier 16 on Saturday.
