Brendan McCarthy is hopeful that Murt The Flirt’s proven ability on the Gold Coast course will translate into a return to winning form in Saturday’s Magic Millions Sprint (1200m).
Murt The Flirt will line up in Saturday’s Magic Millions Sprint field. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
Murt The Flirt has made an appearance at each of the two most-recent editions of the Gold Coast Magic Millions meet; placing fifth in the 3YO Guineas (1400m) race in 2015 before storming home to finish fourth behind Lucky Hussler in the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) last year.
Allocated the ideal barrier 4 and charged with carrying only 56.5kgs, McCarthy is confident that the Magic Millions Sprint 2017 is the best chance that the Murtajill gelding has had of saluting at the lucrative Queensland meet to date.
“It’s super to draw the gate, it means a lot up there,” McCarthy told Racing Ahead.
“He’s done very well and the track up there has a beautiful cushion with a nice, firm base, so I think it’s a bit more forgiving than out tracks down here. That will suit him enormously.
“He’s run in this race at this meeting the last two years and run well both times. I think this race is probably a little easier than the race we met last year, and I think that we’re going into it very well.
“All going well, we’ll give it a good sight.”
Murt The Flirt has claimed $270,000 in prize money throughout his eighteen career starts; posting four wins and a further five minor placings.
Having resumed in spring for third in the Club Officer BM78 (1200m) at Pakenham, Murt The Flirt was kept to light duties with a view towards the Magic Millions; winning the Movenpick Ice Cream BM84 (1400m) second-up a month later.
Failing to fire in the Subzero BM90 (1400m) on Crown Oaks Day, the gelding out of Loves Attention lacked the late speed to make much of an impact in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) most recently on Boxing Day.
Murt The Flirt has firmed slightly into Magic Millions Sprint odds of $15 with Ladbrokes Australia, having opened at a $17 quote.
