THIS year’s $2 million Magic Millions Classic for the two-year-olds looks, on paper, to be a raffle!
Differing form-lines from Victoria, NSW and Queensland have come together to provide punters with a major dilemma.
Clearly there is really good depth in the babies this year, whereas in past years we have often had a stand-out runner or two – case in question Sunlight last year.
But not so this year.
TABCORP has Godolphin’s EXHILARATES the firming favourite at $4.80, from DUBIOUS ($5.00), UNITE AND CONQUER ($5.50) and stable-mate CZARSON ($6.50).
Following a troublesome float-trip north from Victoria, Darren Weir’s YES YES YES was found to be sore and was yesterday withdrawn from the race by stewards.
Barrier draws usually play a major role in the outcome of this race, thus it’s significant UNITE AND CONQUER has drawn 18, Team Snowden’s HIGHTAIL ($12) 19 and CZARSON 15.
In two unbeaten runs UNITE AND CONQUER has been a brilliant jump-and-run colt by Hinchinbrook and bar for drawing the ‘car-park’, would be clearly first pick.
But, that gate is horrific. He’s not the only fast youngster in this field and all the others are drawn inside him, thus rider Adam Hyeronimus faces a real decision.
Does he blast the gate and attempt to cross the entire field or come out idling, so to speak, and look for somewhere to slot in, risking being caught wide?
It’s the biggest query/decision facing any rider in the race.
The Group 1 two-year-old races run in Australia every year often go to the run-on youngsters, those strong and powerful beyond their rapidly growing bodies.
This year’s Magic Millions Classic has several high-class run-on youngsters involved, namely EXHILARATES, DUBIOUS and to a slightly lesser extent, Team Hayes’ CHAMPAGNE BOOM ($16).
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s DUBIOUS should, for my mine, be favourite.
This Not A Single Doubt colt was simply brilliant on debut when he displayed great speed to dominate the famous Breeders Plate at Randwick last October.
Immediately put away for this race, DUBIOUS then re-appeared at Eagle Farm two weeks ago and charged home to win again, running his last 600-metres in a sizzling 33.3 seconds.
He now goes into the race fit, in-form and drawn perfectly in gate 7 which ticks a lot of boxes.
EXHILARATES is another who makes real appeal.
Following three run-on defeats she went to the Gold Coast and was strong and impressive winning last week. This is the same race Sunlight won last year before capturing the Magic Millions.
She’s bred to be a star by Australia’s champion sire Snitzel out of former brilliant juvenile Samaready, a Blue Diamond Stakes winner and placed in a Golden Slipper.
She gets three-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy, a good draw in 9, and of course the 2kgs allowance for fillies.
The best value runner in this race is clearly CHAMPAGNE BOOM, a Spirit Of Boom filly trained by Team Hayes with an impressive record.
On debut she charged home to impressively win the Listed Debutante Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield in October, winning by an ever-widening two and a half lengths.
She then started favourite in the Group 3 Ottawa Stakes (1000m) at Flemington and was strongest on the line when a close third, narrowly beaten by Bella Rossa.
She was then freshened and next appeared in the Wyong Magic Millions (1100m) when a closing fourth behind Unite And Conquer, after missing the start and negotiating traffic issues.
Now she gets to 1200-metres for the first time, has champion rider Craig Williams on board from barrier 3.
HIGHTAIL is an impressive Written Tycoon gelding and CZARSON a fast Stratum colt trained by Waterhouse/Bott, but both have to overcome horror outside gates.
NEALE DONNELLEY SELECTS: DUBIOUS 1; Exhilarates 2; Unite And Conquer 3; Champagne Boom 4.
