WINNO'S WINNERS: GOLD COAST, 11 JANUARY, 2020
By Darren Winningham | Friday, January 10, 2020
GOLD COAST RACES – SATURDAY 11 JANUARY 2020
ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE GOLD COAST THIS WEEKEND
It is the Magic Millions races at the Gold Coast this weekend where the track is rated “GOOD” and the rail is in the true position for the entire course.
A $10 million prizemoney day in Queensland. The track was in sensational order last weekend. The leaders were running into a head wind in the straight and I think this weekend horses racing handy may have a distinct advantage.
It is a massive day of racing – no time to delay – let’s get straight into it!
Race 1 The Magic Millions Maiden
With $250,000 in prizemoney at stake we will see some competitive racing here.
It is very difficult to line the form up as there are runners here from all over Australia but I do think the Sydney based horses have a mortgage on the race this year – there has been some great trials in the lead up to the race. They all have drawn well here as well, they all race near the lead and they are ready to win!
The one that has grabbed my attention is Sir Rocket (5) from the Bjorn Baker stables. Baker Racing has a wonderful record at the Gold Coast. Baker targets these feature races every year – normally with wonderful success. This runner has had three trials in the lead up to this race and has been brought up from Sydney early to get ready for this assignment. He has had a look at the Gold Coast track as well with a trial on 31 December that he won well. Damian Lane in the saddle – there is a lot to like about this runner.
Baker has another runner engaged here as well, Let It Pour (11), and he has strategically put the blinkers on for the first time this weekend. I would have had her as a standout until she drew barrier 21. She went around in the Group 3 Vo Rogue last start and drops back to 1400 metres this weekend. I think that she struggled at that distance when Alligator Blood won – 1200 metres is right up her alley. She must still be considered. Jason Collett is in the saddle.
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott have Aeecee Beau (2) going around with Tim Clark to ride. He is first up this weekend and he has had three serious trials to get him ready for the race. He was under a tight hold in his last trial at Hawkesbury and could have won the trial if they let him go. He has earmuffs on pre-race and a tongue tie this weekend.
I have a healthy respect for Gary Portelli’s trained Spaceboy (4) to be ridden by Nash Rawiller. This runner has had seven starts and never been out of the money in all starts. He resumed with a great effort at Kensington and since then has had three trials to keep him ticking over for this race. Clearly the stable has set him for this race after his dynamic effort first up. He latest trial over 1200 metres was awesome – winning by 12 lengths!
A celestial quinella to start the day Sir Rocket and Spaceboy for mine!
Selections:
5 – Sir Rocket
4 – Spaceboy
2 – Aeecee Beau
11 – Let It Pour
Rough chance 13
Race 2
Etana (5) is on the short back up after running in The Wave last weekend. Look, on face value she looked disappointing. I thought she was a certainty last weekend. She was held up at a vital point and she lost a plate in the running. Maybe we should forgive her and in this smaller field (there are plenty of early scratchings) she should get all the favours this weekend.
Reckless Choice (6) sprouted wings late last start over the mile at Eagle Farm. I thought that he would struggle here with the larger field and having to come from the rear of the field, however, now the field has been decimated he gets his chance to win a good race. Boris Thornton rides again for Steven O’Dea.
Diamonds and Rust (12) I thought was a sensational run last weekend in The Wave only faltering in the final 75 metres when she was swamped late. She will drive to the lead again and may be too difficult to run down here.
Testashadow (3) loves this track and is massive odds – keep him safe.
Selections:
5 – Etana
6 – Reckless Choice
12 – Diamonds and Rust
3 – Testashadow
Race 3 The $1 million Ferrari Magic Millions Trophy
$1 million in prizemoney – unbelievable!
The Candy Man (1), the new Queensland hero, goes around here! Trained by Barry Baldwin and to be ridden again by Brad Stewart with a massive 61 kilograms to carry. I said last start the weight would be too much – egg on my face!
He meets a weaker opposition this weekend and I cannot see him getting beaten.
If you want to back a roughie to knock off the favourite get on Our Fun (12) trained by Richard & Michael Freedman. This mare is only lightly raced. She has won her past two starts in good style and gets in here on the minimum. Her last start win at Newcastle was solid carrying 59 kilograms. She drops in weight – yes, I know sharply up in grade but her sectionals and overall time at Newcastle are worth considering here. She is drawn well, and I think she will be sprinting with The Candy Man (1) at the end of the race. So, will the weights be the telling factor late? $17 each way is a price to consider.
Chris Waller trains Black On Gold (2). The Summer Cup (Group 3) run last start at Randwick suggests he is ready to show his best this weekend.
Baylee Nothdurft rode A Man To Match last weekend for his biggest win of his career. He choked back tears at the presentation. The ride was one of perfection. The way he finished off the race last weekend suggests the extra distance this weekend will suit him down to the ground. He gets in well at the weights as well.
Selections:
1 – The Candy Man
12 – Our Fun
2 – Black On Gold
5 – A Man To Match
Rough chance 6
Race 4 The $1 million Live in Queensland Magic Millions Snippets
Well it is a great place to live – Queensland – I must admit that! But NSW play better football!
Another $1 million race.
Isaurian (4) was awesome first up at Eagle Farm going to the line untested and running some striking time. He always races well fresh and is undefeated first up. He can struggle second up, but I think with Tarzan (6) engaged here they will go along at speed and be running some time in this race and this should suit him.
Bjorn Baker has the classy mare resuming here – Champagne Cuddles (5). She has been racing in Group 1 and Group 2 races in her last preparation. She always goes sensational first up and I was drawn to May 2018 when she destroyed a quality field here in the Gold Coast Guineas. Baker has gone for a strong rider in Nash Rawiller for this mare. She will respond well to his style of riding and will be storming home late. She can run time as well – she is going to be hard to beat.
I cannot split my top two selections!
Madam Rouge (8) resumed well and won first up at Randwick. She has drawn well and will be there abouts.
Czarson (15) has drawn wide this weekend and is on the quick back up after resuming here last weekend. I am going to say erase the run last weekend – he was leading – he ran into a head wind and carried a massive weight. I think this weekend he will scoot across from the outside and probably sit in behind Tarzan who will go like a cut snake in front. Look for Tommy Berry to ride him conservatively and have plenty left to offer in the final 100 metres when the whips are cracking!
Some roughies to consider are – Spending To Win (7) and Scallopini (10).
Selections:
5 – Champagne Cuddles
4 – Isaurian
8 – Madam Rouge
15 – Czarson
Rough chances 7 & 10
Race 5 Magic Millions Fillies & Mares - $1 million
Another million reasons to win here!
The top two look very hard to beat.
Invincibella (1) has won this race for the past two years and is looking to win a hat trick – that is some record. She raced well in the Christmas Classic (Listed) first up at Randwick. I think that she may just strike a couple better than her here this year but I think she may run second! That will make co-owner Matt Stiff very happy as I am yet to tip her when she has won in Queensland! If she wins mate, I will require a cap with your signature and Hugh Bowman’s on it as well!
Irithea (2) is another Bjorn Baker runner. She hasn’t raced for nearly a month but had a solid hit out in a trial about two weeks ago when she surged to win the trial. Joshua Parr resumes his solid association with her this weekend. He has a solid win/placing ratio aboard this mare. She will be on the speed and watch out for her to hold on late especially if she gets away with some cheap sectionals in front.
Misteed (17) was an emergency, however, with the scratchings will make the field. She is fourth up this weekend and I think she will take plenty of improvement out of her run at Eagle Farm a fortnight ago. Kerrin McEvoy rides her again this weekend.
Yamazaki (10) - what a run last weekend! Stormed home for David Pfieffer and Glen Boss. The same combination combines again this weekend to see if they can claim two wins here in a row.
Tahitian Dancer (10) got a glorious run at Eagle Farm, from last to first, along the fence as the others all peeled off the rail and let her get the gun run – not sure if she will get those favours here this weekend – but she will still be competitive.
Selections:
2 – Irithea
1 – Invincibella
17 – Misteed
10 – Yamazaki
Rough chance 5
Race 6 Magic Millions Guineas
We have $2 million prizemoney here for this race!
Only the big field and bad luck can see Alligator Blood (2) get beaten here. He has been breathtaking winning both starts after resuming from a spell. David Vandyke has a very nice one here and Ryan Maloney is looking to win for the fifth time aboard him this weekend.
Leviathan (10) sprinted well at Randwick when he won last start at Randwick - just sitting nicely in behind the leaders then coming off their heels and going away for a soft win at the end over the 1400 metres. Tommy Berry rides him again here.
Profits (8) is trained by Chris Anderson and he ran a gallant second last start in the Group 3 Vo Rogue when beaten by Alligator Blood (2).
The form out of the Gosford Guineas may be worth considering here as well. Hightail (3) won the race and was very strong over the final 125 metres going to the line well. The other runner that comes out of that race is Exhilarates (5) who won the 2019 Magic Millions race as a two-year-old and has won 2 from 2 here at the Gold Coast track. This weekend James Cummings has elected to put winkers on for the first time. She was out of her ground at Gosford and seemed to be flat in the final sprint – maybe she needed the run and will strip fitter here this weekend. I think at massive odds she must be considered with this gear change.
There is some value outside of the favourite if you think he may be unlucky this weekend!
Selections:
2 – Alligator Blood
10 – Leviathan
8 – Profit
3 – Hightail
Rough chances 4, 5 and 11
Race 7 THE 2020 MAGIC MILLIONS 2YO Classic
The feature race – worth $2 Million. The race we are all here for this weekend!
A great field assembled – who will win?
Peter and Paul Snowden could create history and train the trifecta of the 2020 Magic Millions. They have some serious chances engaged in the race this year.
I am going for Kings Legacy (1) to go on with his winning form after a solid win last start at Eagle Farm. Winning the BJ McLachlan (Group 3) was a stamp of authority from a good horse. He is syndicated by James Harron Bloodstock and looks like he is ready made for this race. He will be strapped again this weekend by Tom Quinn – no stranger to Brisbane and looking to strap his first Magic Millions winner – good luck mate!
Harron Bloodstock also syndicated Nitrous (7) who ran a super time last time out over 1000 metres at Randwick. If he improves off that run and can get the 1200 metres he will be right in this finish late.
Aim (5) is the third of the Snowden Racing runners. He won last start over 1200 metres at Randwick. Tommy Berry stays aboard, and he is no stranger to winning a Magic Millions feature race. In fact, he has won this race in 2011 (Karuta Queen) and then again in 2012 (Driefontein). He is the early race favourite.
Matthew Dunn Racing has Lady Banff (13) engaged – drawn well with James McDonald in the saddle. She may be the forgotten runner of the field. I found that she has run the quickest 1200 metres of all the runners in the race. I was impressed with her effort last start at Eagle Farm when beaten by Gotta Kiss (11). She was too quick for her over the 1000 metres but is back to 1200 metres this weekend – this is her grand final and I expect her to be finishing the race off well when the judge calls a stop to this year’s feature race!
The fairy tale story for the 2020 edition will be if the “Mi Runner” Dusty Tycoon (12) trained by Robert Heathcote Racing with Dale Smith can win the race for the many first-time owners who are in the syndicate.
Selections:
1 – Kings Legacy
5 – Aim
13 – Lady Banff
7 – Nitrous
Rough chances 2,4 and 12
Race 8 MAGIC MILLIONS CUP
The massive prizemoney continues - $1 million again!
Vega One (6) loves the 1400 metres and I think is well placed again in this race by Gollan Racing. I see that Michael Rodd has been booked to partner him again – the pair were unstoppable last start at Eagle Farm, and I anticipate them going close again here this weekend. Vega One had a trial ten days ago. I think he races best when his runs are spaced. He hasn’t run previously at this circuit, however, I think with the speed in the race he will be placed in behind the leaders and peel out like he did last start to win.
Heathcote Racing has their much-improved Testa Toss gelding Deep Image (3) looking for another win. He races on the speed and sets up the race to suit himself. Robbie Fradd has built a great rapport with this runner. This weekend barrier 18 will mean he will need to be used up early and get across the field to take up his customary leading role. He has been very tough in his latest two wins late – if he gets some cheap sectionals in front and doesn’t have to work hard early, he will be very difficult to get past late.
Sambro (4) is dropping back in distance from two recent efforts at the mile. His best form is over 1400 metres, so he gets every chance this weekend to improve and post a win on this feature day for Chris Waller Racing.
Snowden Racing could have a big hour here at the Gold Coast as they have a nice runner here at odds that could cause a major upset at $17 – Smartedge (8). His price does not do justice to his recent efforts. This runner, despite drawing wide, must be respected and could spring a major upset on his more fancied rivals with Tommy Berry aboard.
Selections:
6 – Vega One
3 – Deep Image
4 – Sambro
8 – Smartedge
Rough chance 1
Race 9 MAGIC MILLIONS QTIS OPEN
Another tough race to finish off the day and yet – wait for it – another $1 million in prizemoney!
This race I think has some good chances for the local horses to claim some of the mammoth prizemoney that is on offer. I like the Les Ross Racing trained River Racer (5) to maybe show up here. She is fourth up. If the track was wet, I would have to declared her – but her runs recently suggest that this race and distance is right up her alley. I think the dominant riding style of jockey Nash Rawiller will also see an improved effort this weekend. Look for those stable sky-blue colours to be in the finish I reckon!
Gollan Racing has Tokoriki Lad (14) third up from a spell. He has a great record each time he goes around from this point onwards in his preparations. He also has a tremendous record at this track and distance and Kerrin McEvoy is aboard. He will make his run late from a midfield position and I expect to see him in the finish.
Boomsara (2), from Munce Racing, won here last year. He is third up as well and has drawn favourably this weekend in barrier 6. It could see him take a trail behind the speedy I’m A Rippa (1) who does like to motor along in front with a genuine tempo. Boomsara (2) will be ridden by Brad Stewart this weekend and he looks like he could claim some more of the Magic Millions prizemoney for his large number of owners!
Chapter and Verse (3) has been set for this race throughout his preparation by Desleigh Forster. This is his grand final and I expect him to be very competitive here this weekend. With the speed on and drawn well he will get a lovely run with Mark Du Plessis in the saddle. Watch for him to be running home late sneaking runs through the middle of the field.
Boomtown Lass (10) is a Chris Anderson Racing trained mare. She loves 1400 metres and looks well in here with Glen Boss to ride.
The Odyssey (13), trained by Kelly Schweida, is a runner who thrives here at the Gold Coast. This is his first look at 1400 metres. Jimmy Orman is back riding him again this weekend and he must think he is a genuine chance as he will need to work hard to get down to 54 kilograms. I suppose he will be out doing some running around the streets of Nudgee sweating up a storm in the lead up to this race.
Selections:
5 – River Racer
14 – Tokoriki Lad
2 – Boomsara
3 – Chapter and Verse
Rough chances 4, 10 & 13
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Jockey’s Challenge
Looks like an open field – Nash Rawiller back on the Gold Coast to grab a narrow win from Kerrin McEvoy.
Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5 NSW only)
5,6,12 / 1,2,12 / 4,5,8,15 / 1,2,10,17 - cost is $144 to $1
Value Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)
5,6 / 1,12 / 4,5 / 1,2,17 - cost is $24 to $1
Quaddie (races 6 to 9)
2,3,5,8,10 / 1,5,7,13 / 3,4,6,8 /2,3,5,14 - cost is $320 to $1
Value Quaddie (races 6 to 9)
2,5,10 / 1,5,13 / 3,6 / 2,5,14 -cost is $54 to $1
Treble (races 7 to 9)
1,5,7,13 / 3,4,6,8 / 2,3,5,14 - cost is $64 to $1
Value Treble
1,5,13 / 3,6 / 2,5,14 - cost is $18 to $1
WINNO V FLEMO
FLEMO pipped me last weekend by a narrow margin in our tipping competition – well done mate! We have been in great form in recent weeks – let’s hope we can continue it this weekend! Be sure to check the up to date and amended tips each Saturday morning on Facebook after any track changes or scratchings!
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