Brilliant colt Winning Rupert remains the favourite for the $2m Gold Coast Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday following the barrier draw at Surfers Paradise this morning.
Winning Rupert, above, remains the favourite for the Magic Millions 3yo Guineas at the Gold Coast. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Winning Rupert drew barrier six and will jump from gate five with one of the five emergencies drawing inside of him.
The undefeated Written Tycoon colt sits at the top of the market order at $1.55 with Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained dual Group 1 winner Global Glamour who is the only other runner under the $10 mark at $5.50.
Winning Rupert made it five wins from five starts when he led all of the way to win the Group 3 $200,000 Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) at Eagle Farm on December 31 and trainer Bjorn Baker expects him to race on the pace again with Jeff Lloyd in the saddle again.
“I think he’s got enough natural speed that he’ll be able to put himself forward without too much discomfort,” Baker told Racing Victoria.
“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.”
“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).”
Winning Rupert kicked off his winning streak during the 2016 Queensland Winter Carnival and after scoring on debut in a 1000m Sunshine Coast 2yo Plate on April 23 went on to win the Group 2 $175,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Classic (1200m) at Doomben on May 14.
The flashy chestnut three year old hasn’t been headed at three runs from a spell and resumed with a five and three quarter lengths win in a 1200m 3yo Plate at Eagle Farm on December 3 before repeating the effort for an easy win in the Listed $100,000 Delfina’s Bistro Gold Edition Plate (1200m) at Doomben on December 17 prior to winning the Vo Rogue Plate.
Global Glamour wasn’t so lucky at the barrier draw coming up with gate twenty and will jump from the outside gate when the field is reduced to its safety capacity size of sixteen at scratching time on Saturday morning.
The Star Witness filly showed her class in the Spring with back to back Group 1 wins in the $500,000 Sydney Airport Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 1 and a week later in the $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.
But the filly had no luck when held up for a run in the straight when resuming for a ninth in Listed $100,000 Nudgee Quality Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm on December 31 against the older mares and will appreciate the drop back to her own age group with Tim Clark taking over the reins from Tye Angland in the Magic Millions 3yo Guineas.
