WINNO'S WINNERS - MAGIC MILLIONS - TAKE 2
By Darren Winningham | Wednesday, January 18, 2023
MAGIC MILLIONS RACE-DAY 2023 – TAKE 2!
The Magic Millions race action continues on Thursday with the eight races postponed on Saturday, after that meeting was abandoned, to be decided ... with a revised race order ... at the Gold Coast Turf Club's Aquis Park.
The track is rated “Heavy” and rail is out 1m from 950m to 350m then in the true position for the entire circuit.
NB: As these selections were made prior to final scratchings, please check for any changes to track conditions and for any scratchings on the day.
Race 1
The first race – tough way to start the day over 1300 metres.
Alpine Edge (3) ran a gallant second in the King of the Mountain in Toowoomba – James McDonald will ride for the Gold Coast based Toby & Trent Edmonds stables. With that run and back om her home track, she looks ideally placed.
The odds of $2.30 are a little short for me – but she looks well in from barrier 1.
If you want to get the bookies off to a bad start – I am coming for you Tony Carlton! Maybe each way lashing at Dr Why Not (14) from the Lindsay Gough stables at Toowoomba with underrated Michael Murphy to ride. Probably never has seen 52.5 kilograms in a race for ages – he is honest as they come - will be handy near the speed and from barrier 6 should be right in the finish. I like the silly odds of $14 on offer as well – something each way to get you off to a great start.
Indiscreetly (6) resumes here. Michael Cahill will ride for local trainer Danny Bougoure. She races well fresh and looked forward winning a recent barrier trial. Keep safe.
Ef Troop (1) races well and could win for Tony Gollan. Craig Williams will ride – the blinkers are off here for the race.
Stuttering raced well fresh when resuming – will have benefited from that effort. Robert Heathcote trains this gelding and Michael Dee will ride – could cause an upset.
Selections:
3 – Alpine Edge
14 – Dr Why Not
6 – Indiscreetly
1 – Ef Troop
Rough chance - Stuttering (12)
Race 2
This is the distance race over 2200 metres.
I like the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott pair to fight out the race.
Zoumon (11) was unlucky last time out – has a month between runs and a solid barrier trial win recently. Brenton Advulla who won the feature race last weekend, ‘The Wave,’ will ride here. I think he will jump and run and may take some running down.
The stable mate is Too Much Caviar (10) – possibly the connections will be celebrating with champagne and caviar if they can win the $590,000 prizemoney on offer for the winner of this race. This runner is looking to post a hat trick of wins. Regan Bayliss will ride him again for the stable and he looks well placed.
Deficit (14) won The Wave last weekend here over 1800 metres. He was strong to the line. He may just find the extra distance the testing material, however, down in the weights and with a solid win last weekend on his resume he must be respected. Stephanie Thornton will ride.
Sky Lab (1) was unlucky last time out at Randwick in the Group 3 Summer Cup. Jason Collett will ride him this weekend for Paul Perry. On his best form he would slay this field.
Parry Sound (5) had no luck whatsoever last time out in the Summer Cup – he could well be the big improver here for trainer Sara Ryan. Jenny Duggan will ride – can the girls combine for a huge win in this race!
Selections:
11 – Zoumon
10 – Too Much Caviar
1 – Sky Lab
14 – Deficit
Rough chance – (5) Parry Sound
Race 3 THE $2 MILLION MAGIC MILLIONS TWO-YEAR-OLD CLASSIC
Speed a plenty – they will go fast. Some class and track records last weekend – they could possibly beat the race record I am predicting.
Peter & Paul Snowden have some nice chances here – Sovereign Fund (2) and Empire of Japan (4).
James McDonald will be on Empire Of Japan (4). He resumed and was heavily backed first up at Randwick. He really raced as if he wanted 1200 metres first up. He belted home over the 1100 metres and ran a sensational time for the last 600 metres.
The stablemate is Sovereign Fund (2) who will have Jamie Kah aboard. Can Kah be the second female to ride the Classic winner after Clare Lindop rode Augusta Proud to win 15 years ago for Leon Macdonald. This colt has drawn poorly in barrier 17 and will need some luck. However, he has been dominant in both of his career wins to date. The last run at Doomben over 1200 metres was arrogant and he seemed to have plenty left at the end of the race. Super sectionals as well – he could be the one to hold out here.
Another female rider who has a genuine chance is Rachel King who will be aboard Bjorn Baker trained filly Infatuation (8). She won well at Randwick last time out over 1200 metres and will press forward from barrier 8. She was strong to the line and maybe we can see two female jockeys finish 1 – 2 in this feature race in 2023!
Royal Entrance (5) from the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott yards is also undefeated in two starts. A brilliant win last time here over 1100 metres where he just dominated the race. Tim Clark will ride this weekend and he has drawn well in barrier 9.
Tony Gollan leads the charge for the QLD runners with his undefeated filly – Skirt The Law (13). Ryan Maloney will ride her from barrier 4. She has been dominant in both race starts and has had a recent trial here on the track to top her off for her Grand Final this weekend – a definite threat.
Selections:
4 – Empire Of Japan
8 – Infatuation
2 – Sovereign Fund
13 – Skirt The Law
Rough chance – (5) Royal Entrance
Race 4 THE $2 MILLION MAGIC MILLIONS THREE-YEAR-OLD GUINEAS
Open race here over 1400 metres. The other main feature race on the program.
Snowden Racing has another wonderful chance here – can they win the two feature races with their representative here – Russian Conquest (14)? He is not good on wet tracks, but he ran a slashing second in the Gosford Guineas over 1200 metres where he came from the tail of the field on a track where leaders had it all their way on the day to go down in a photo. James McDonald will ride, and I think that he looks the winner.
Steven O’Dea and Matt Hoysted lead the charge for QLD with Stroll (12). She was unlucky last time out when beaten by Fashion Legend (2) over 1350 metres at Doomben. Halfway down the straight she was flying and then was put back into a pocket by some aggressive riding from James McDonald. She lost her momentum – then had to get balanced and then attempted to make ground after a further checked run in the straight. Look I think she probably wins that race on all things being equal. Taking nothing away from Fashion Legend (2) who was solid leading all the way.
Yellow Brick (4) is from Sears Racing. The reigning inaugural King of The Mountain winner in Toowoomba. Ben Thompson will ride. He has a wonderful cruising speed, and he lets down so fast and has an amazing sprint late. His only race defeat has been on this track back in September last year. On his run first up, he will be hard to keep out.
Spiritualised (5) put it all together last time – jumped, led, and ran away in a good time over 1300 metres. Tony Gollan must be confident of him showing up with a repeat performance with the relatively quick back up. He has drawn poorly – but if he can get across and stack them up, he could be right in the finish late.
Fashion Legend (2) just keeps winning. Nothing wrong with the winning form of this Richard & Will Freedman runner who has won both starts in QLD – Joshua Parr will ride him here.
Tijuana (1), trained by Ben & JD Hayes, looks well placed. Races well fresh and Mark Zahra will ride. He wasn’t asked to do much in a recent trial on this track – look for a bold effort.
Selections:
14 – Russian Conquest
12 – Stroll
4 – Yellow Brick
5 – Spiritualised
Rough chance – (1) Tijuana & (2) Fashion Legend
Race 5
First Leg of the Quaddie.
1300 metres for the fillies and mares.
Tracey Bartley seems to have Barossa Rosa (6) firing after some throat surgery - she has come back winning both of her starts. Jim Byrne retains the ride here after winning on her last time out at Doomben. She probably will find herself second in the running with Vangelic (2) looking the likely leader. On her recent efforts she looks a great chance in this premium race.
Chris Waller Racing has a strong representation here with three solid chances.
Bella Rouge (12) last ran here and was flying home late over 1300 – a repeat of that effort could see her get the chocolates – Michael Dee will ride.
Brookspire (8) ran at Randwick five weeks ago. She was defeated by Barossa Rosa (6) on that occasion. She has had a nice trial on this track. Drawn well and looks a likely improver. Has James McDonald riding – must be respected.
Kiku (1) the class mare of the field, is another stablemate. She was first up after a nine week freshen up at Doomben a fortnight ago. Worked home well over 1200 metres. She loves this distance and should be right in the race. Brenton Avdulla will ride.
The local runners are best represented by the Edmonds Racing runner Me Me Lagarde (5) who thrives on her home track. I think that she finds 1400 metres too far – 1300 metres is probably right up her alley, and she will be ridden by Jason Collett. She always finishes strong – just hopefully doesn’t get too far back. It would be great to see owner Gerry Harvey conquer a race on a day and an event he is instrumental at arranging – a perfect result!
Selections:
6 – Barossa Rosa
8 – Brookspire
5 – Me Me Lagarde
12 – Bella Rouge
Rough chance – (1) Kiku
Race 6
First leg of the Treble.
Snowden Racing trains King Of Sparta (1) who slaughtered them last time out in the Falvelon (Listed). James McDonald will ride here. Looks too good for this lot – should just win.
Shooting For Gold (3) will improve now he is third up. Mark Zahra will ride him, and he will be much improved after being held up in the race won by King Of Sparta (1) – not saying he would have won – just that he may have made it interesting late.
Spaceboy (12) could be one to cause an upset - rained in NSW by Gary Portelli with Jamie Kah aboard. Narrowly beaten last time out at Canterbury on a track that didn’t suit him. Look for some improvement.
Maotai (14) is trained by Kacy Fogden and has a heap a gear changes. Resumes here – has been well supported in the markets – Andrew Mallyon will ride. He has won two recent barrier trials impressively – looks ready to run.
Selections:
1 – King Of Sparta
3 – Shooting For Gold
12 – Spaceboy
14 – Maotai
Race 7
The Steven O’Dea and Matt Hoysted trained pair look well placed.
Contemptuous (4) resumed with a solid run in the George Moore (Group 3) six weeks ago. He has a solid second up record and Craig Williams will ride. Nice odds as well at $12.
The stable mate, who is the early favourite, Scallopini (2) will be ridden by Mark Zahra. He can race on the speed or take a sit. He probably does look the one to be best placed in the running. Just a little concerned first up and that he is now an eight-year-old. In saying that his last preparation where he campaigned in Victoria was tremendous.
Eleven Eleven (1), what can I say – he just thrives this time of the year – Magic Millions Day is in his DNA. He is trained by the astute Greg Hickman and James Mc Donald will ride him here. His is a champion sprinter – coming off a freshen up and a solid barrier trial. I just think the 1200 metres will be too short for him. On the other hand, the tempo of the race should be such that he flashes home late. He probably will be ridden mid-field as well – if he gets back and must make a run late and there is a leader’s bias, I can see him going down in a photo.
The weights and conditions of the race do favour him.
Snowden Racing has the 2022 Grafton Ramornie winner in the race – Ranges (3). Tommy Berry will ride. If he gets luck in running and measures up here, he will be in the finish.
Hidden Wealth (13) is trained by Tony Gollan. Thornton keeps her association with the three-year-old gelding. He is not really favoured by the weights – however, his last two wins have been amazing with his sectionals being very impressive. He has drawn well in barrier 6 and, around the $8 mark, I think is an exceptional each way chance. As the name implies – the “wealth” of the $580,000 winner’s prizemoney will sit nicely with the winning connections.
Selections:
13 – Hidden Wealth
1 – Eleven Eleven
4 – Contemptuous
2 – Scallopini
Rough chance – (3) Ranges
Race 8
The Magic Millions Cup over 1425.
I originally liked the form of the Barry Lockwood runner – Petronius (16) – which, unfortunately has now been scratched.
Emerald Kingdom (2) is trained by Desleigh Forster and Jim Byrne will ride him again. He will jump and run. If they are leading and winning you must consider this runner. He is an iron horse in front and normally they find it hard to get past him late.
Palladas (19) should get into the field from the Tony Gollan stables. Again – down in the weights and likely to be chasing hard as the judge calls a halt to the race. Has barrier 20- to contend with – but with the speed on – if they can make ground look for him to be flashing home late with Jason Collett in the saddle.
Oscar Zulu (5) is another Chris Waller Racing runner. Has had a freshen up since failing in The Gong over a mile. Did not seem to see the trip out. A freshen up and back to a more suitable distance he will be hard to hold out. He has had two barrier trials and always performs well fresh.
Rough chances to Holyfield (3) who races well at this track, and Love Tap (8) first up could race well fresh.
Selections:
2 – Emerald Kingdom
19 – Palladas
5 – Oscar Zulu
3 - Holyfield
Rough chances – (8) Love Tap
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Jockeys Challenge
James McDonald looks like he has a nice book of rides
Exotics
Early Quaddie (races 1 to 4)
3,6,14 / 1,10,11,14 / 2,4,8,13 / 4,5,12,14 - cost is $192 to $1
Value Early Quaddie (races 1 to 4)
3,14 / 10,11 / 2,4,8 / 12,14 - cost is $24 to $1
Quaddie (races 5 to 8)
5,6,8,12 / 1,3 / 1,2,4,13 / 2,3,5,19 - cost is $128 to $1
Value Quaddie (races 5 to 8)
6,8 / 1 / 1,4,13 / 2,5.19 - cost is $18 to $1
Treble (races 6 to 8)
1 / 1,4,13 / 2,5,19 - cost is $9 to $1
WINNO V FLEMO
The battle continues with WINNO and FLEMO. Be sure to check the up to date and amended tips on Facebook on race-day morning after any track changes and scratchings where I will post our selections and any late mail!
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