Winning Rupert is set to claim the biggest scalp of his racing career on the Gold Coast this weekend, after being confirmed in the 2017 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas field.
Winning Rupert has been confirmed in the 2017 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas final field. Photo: Daniel Costello
The talented three-year-old is yet to taste anything but success through an impressive five-start tenure so far and will take his place in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas field with three black type wins already in the books.
Sent to the paddock after taking out the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m) at Doomben on May 14th, the Written Tycoon colt resumed in December for a six length win in the McInnes Wilson Lawyers Plate (1200m) on December 3rd.
Making a successful return to black type company with another dominant win in the Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m) a fortnight later, Winning Rupert was last seen jogging home to win the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) by three lengths at Eagle Farm on New Year’s Eve.
Trainer Bjorn Baker is understandably thrilled with the ability displayed and results posted by Winning Rupert so far and does not believe that Tuesday’s Magic Millions 3YO Guineas barrier draw will have much of an effect on the horse’s performance.
“He’s a horse that I’m not too worried about where he draws,” Baker told Racing Victoria.
“I think he’s got enough natural speed that he’ll be able to put himself forward without too much discomfort and he’s got enough tactical speed that I don’t think it will be too much of an issue if we were to draw a bit wide.
“I couldn’t have him much fitter at the moment and I suppose if there was a doubt with him it was 1200m first up at Eagle Farm earlier this preparation, but I don’t think fourth-up over 1400m at the Gold Coast should be too much of an issue,” he said.
“In his trials he’s always sat off the speed so I don’t think that he’s necessarily a one-trick pony in that he has to lead.
I’m sure he’ll be right there near the speed and whether he leads or sits off I’ll leave that up to Jeff (Lloyd, jockey).”
A capacity Magic Millions 3YO Guineas field of sixteen has been confirmed, with a further five horses included as race emergencies.
Multiple Group 1 winner Global Glamour and in-form runner Eckstein headline a smart crop of fillies included in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas field.
Global Glamour resuming in spring for third in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) on September 3rd, and while failing to match the late pace in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m), responded with consecutive wins in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) and Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m).
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are confident that the Star Witness filly has stripped fitter for her first-up run for ninth in the Listed Nudgee Quality (1200m) a fortnight ago, and will relish a step up in distance into the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas field.
Eckstein has found career-best form leading into the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas and will be seeking a fifth-consecutive win in the feature race.
Securing her maiden win in a Randwick minor over 1200m on October 15th, the daughter of I Am Invincible repeated the dose in the West Tradies CFMEU BM70 (1200m) a fortnight later before claiming her first black type win in the Listed Mode Plate (1200m) on December 10th.
Eckstein returned from a freshen-up to win the Nerang RSL Handicap (1200m) on the Gold Coast last weekend and is another runner that appears to be looking for more distance.
Winning Rupert remains a clear $1.55 favourite in 2017 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas betting markets with Ladbrokes Australia, ahead of tomorrow’s barrier draw.
