Guy Rates Stroak His Best Magic Millions Classic Chance

Queensland trainer Bryan Guy rates classy filly Stroak the best horse he has ever had in a Magic Millions Classic field.

Trainer Bryan Guy is confident that Stroak can overcome a wide barrier draw and perform well in the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Trainer Bryan Guy is confident that Stroak can overcome a wide barrier draw and perform well in the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Stroak started her racing career with an impressive win in the Teldaco Handicap (1020m) at Doomben on October 12 and took out the Duporth Tavern Handicap (1200m) at the same venue on December 7 before stamping herself as a leading Magic Millions Classic contender with a narrow second place finish behind Unencumbered in the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on December 28.

The Real Saga filly did not fare well at the Magic Millions Classic barrier draw this morning, drawing gate 14, but Guy told Racing Queensland this afternoon that he still rates his star juvenile a winning chance in the $2 million event at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

“I’ve only had a handful of runners have a go at this race but I’d say Stroak is my best chance yet,” Guy said.

“She’s drawn 14 but she’ll come into 11 if the emergencies who have all drawn inside of her don’t get starts.

“I’m happy if she starts from there as she’s not a speed horse and she’ll get back.

“I’ve got the right jockey in Michael Cahill on her and you have to be positive going into races like this.

“I couldn’t be happier with her work this morning and she’s done terrific since her McLachlan Stakes run.”

Stroak faced a number of the leading Magic Millions contenders, including Unencumbered, Oakleigh Girl and Echo Gal in the B.J. McLachlan Stakes, but Guy said that he is unable pick the major danger to his fillies’ chances in the race; rating every horse in the field a potential winner.

“It’s a hard race and I wouldn’t like to choose who will be the hardest to beat,” Guy said.

“When you get into big races like this they are all hard to beat.”

Stroak is currently rated a $13 chance in 2014 Magic Millions Classic betting markets; with Unencumbered ($3.80) still a clear favourite from Invisible ($4.50) and Geromayo ($10).

Guy has trained over 1000 winners since taking over the stable of his father Ray Guy in 1992 but a victory in the Magic Millions Classic will be his biggest triumph since his wins in the 1994 Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) with All Our Mob and the 1995 Group 1 T.J. Smith Classic (1200m) with Ravarda.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.