The Gold Coast has been hit by some wet weather in the lead-up to the 2016 Magic Millions Classic and trainer Toby Edmonds believes that a soft track will aid the chances of Sundance in the $2 million event on Saturday.
Sundance could be suited by a wet track in the 2016 Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Sundance made his racing debut with a close second behind Emtevee Queen in the Sky Racing Handicap (1050m) at Doomben on November 28 and he showed that he was capable of handling a wet track when he recorded a dominant five lengths victory in the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes (1050m) at Doomben on December 12.
The I Am Invincible colt was unable to replicate that performance in the Group 3 BJ McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Boxing Day, but was found with heat stress after the race, which Edmonds believes may explain the lacklustre performance.
Edmonds told Racing Ahead this morning that Sundance quickly bounced back from the BJ McLachlan Stakes and he is confident that the juvenile is one of only a few horses in the 2016 Magic Millions Classic that would be suited by the prospect of a wet Gold Coast track.
“He pulled up a bit distressed after the BJ McLachlan because he got in a bit of strife, so he didn’t perform that well that day, but we are getting a lot of rain here at the moment and the track should be a lot more forgiving here on Saturday,” Edmonds said.
“That will bring him back into the race I think.
“There wasn’t much time between him and Zelady’s Night Out, but unfortunately our bloke didn’t perform that well the other day and she won, so he is out the back in the market.
“He has come along pretty good, I don’t need to do too much with him now because he is pretty fit.
“I think I will have him there as good as I can have him.
“If he could run top four I would be really happy.”
Sundance is currently available at 2016 Magic Millions Classic odds of $41 with Ladbrokes, while Capitalist ($1.75) remains a dominant favourite from Niccolance ($10), Zelady’s Night Out ($10), Nikitas ($11), Just Orm ($15), Slumber Party ($15), Dieters ($17), Candika ($21), Highland Beat ($26) and Conchita ($34).
Veteran hoop Jeff Lloyd will partner Sundance in the Magic Millions Classic and he is set to jump from barrier 11.
