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A handful of Australia’s most promising three-year-olds will take centre stage on the Gold Coast this Saturday in a wide-open edition of the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
Now in its eighth year, the stakes are high with not only a share in $3 million up for grabs, but also a guaranteed spot in the All-Star Mile at Caulfield on March 16.
Chris Waller is out for his first Guineas win with Group 2 winning colt Chrysaor, followed closely in the market by Cifrado – fresh from a last-start win in the Vo Rogue Plate at Doomben a fortnight ago.
Pierata, Eleven Eleven, and King Of Sparta make up the honour roll of recent Magic Millions 3YO Guineas winners, and our thoughts on every chance in this year's edition can be found below.
Magic Millions 3YO Classic Betting Strategy
►1 Unit E/W Veecee
►1 Unit E/W Trifling
1. Cifrado (7)
Back in the winner's stall a couple of weeks ago with a swooping run down the outside to claim the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate in his final few strides.
The three-year-old by Encryption doesn't win out of turn, but there was a lot to like about that run given he beat home Group 2 winner Chrysaor in the process.
His only effort here on the Gold Coast came on debut where he stuck on well to finish second, and he should be just about at peak condition now with four runs under his belt.
Likely to get right back in the run again, he's a definite top five contender.
2. Chrysaor (8)
Excellent off a four-week break last month when beaten only narrowly in the Vo Rogue by the fast-finishing Cifrado.
Chris Waller's colt was afforded a cozy ride off the speed in the early stages, charging the line down the outside with plenty left to give.
The wet conditions may have played a factor that day, so how he handles some cut in the track on Saturday will be telling.
Still, he's armed with a big turn of foot, and with less of a gap between runs now, another win wouldn't surprise.
3. Sovereign Fund (4)
Sydney-based gelding that brings different form lines ahead of his return to the Gold Coast.
The son of Capitalist was the last to greet the judge this time last year in the 2YO Classic, given no luck from the wide draw when beaten over 11 lengths.
He went on to win his next start against a small field at Doomben quite well, and did make up some late ground in the Gosford Guineas more recently coming off a let-up.
Tommy Berry and the soft gate are to his favour, but how he handles this extra step up in class is the real test.
4. Royal Tribute (11)Back in the winner's stall on return at Gosford a fortnight ago, leading for most of the way and responding to a late challenge to get home by a lip.
The Snitzel colt has put together a solid first-up record, and although he looks the likely leader, the rise to 1350m might test him from a tricky gate.
5. Vanquished (22)Gave his rivals a galloping lesson last Saturday, leading all the way to finally break maiden by close to three lengths.
His previous efforts this prep have been equally as strong, finding the money on all three occasions in Sydney against weaker company.
The Vancouver gelding handled the wet conditions on a couple of occasions earlier in work, but given the barrier he's drawn, he'll have to spend a bit of petrol to find the front.
6. Defiant Spirit (23)Another one that returned to winning ways last week when stoking up nicely along the rail under Robbie Dolan.
The pair combine again here, but look to have a tougher task at hand from a horror gate.
The son of Spirit Of Boom should strip fitter for four runs back, but he'd likely need a lot to go right in the run.
7. Weigall Tiger (15)Strung together four wins on the trot at Eagle Farm last month with an impressive turn of foot after racing wide.
He wound up with another big run a couple of weeks later, looking the winner at the top of the straight before finding one better in a good go for the line.
This is his first look at the Gold Coast, but if the track is somehow dry and he gets a little luck from the gate, he could be thereabouts.
8. Flying Trapeze (18)Hard fit at this stage of his prep after fighting out the finish in the Gosford Guineas a couple of weeks ago for third.
Gary Portelli's colt can mix his form, but he does warrant some respect with a pair of wins to his name over the trip.
Tyler Schiller sticking in the saddle is a plus, but where he winds up from the gate is the big query.
9. Veecee (10)
Promising colt out of the Maher and Eustace yard that has been kept fresh for his lone start at Caulfield last month.
The son of Capitalist was seen doing his best work late over shorter first-up, slicing back toward the inside where he rattled home for third in the end.
His 400-200m split was ranked seventh fastest of the meeting that day, while he's also looked impressive during a recent trial.
If he can shuffle back early and save something for late, he might be one to watch at big odds.
10. Sydney Bowler (17)Undefeated colt out of the John O'Shea yard that continues to set the bar to new heights.
By Deep Field, this impressive three-year-old put the writing on the wall with a dominant two-length win on debut at Newcastle, going on to win his third start by a similar margin at Randwick in a dominant display.
He's another one that has to overcome the wide gate, but he only needs clear air to be a real factor.
Armed with a serious turn of foot, look for him to be arriving on the scene late.
11. Deep Respect (21)Worked home nicely down the outside to go very close in the Vo Rogue a couple of weeks ago at Doomben.
The decision to get right back in the run was an interesting one from Blake Shinn, one that likely cost the horse a stride or two in the end.
As a two-year-old, this colt by Deep Field was flying, but unplaced in three attempts so far in work, this looks tough – particularly from a difficult barrier.
12. The King (13)Was the beaten favourite last week when finishing 1.7 lengths off Lavish Empire over the track and trip.
The Snowden-trained colt has been up for a while, holding his form nicely to finish no worse than fourth in all seven runs this prep.
Mark Zahra is the man you want in the saddle, and with some form to his name on heavy going, any extra rain about could be seen as a plus.
13. Abounding (9)Abounding was fast away last week in the Gold Plate, eventually letting down four-wide at the top of the straight to get the job done narrowly as the favourite.
He found an extra gear with a couple in front of him at the 200m mark in what was a gut-busting effort to find the line.
Tough to know what he might have let in the tank, but with two wins from three starts this prep, it's tough to find fault with this son of Rich Enuff.
14. Infatuation (12)Looks ready to run a big race for Bjorn Baker third-up.
The I Am Invincible filly appeared home and hosed in the Gosford Guineas a couple of weeks back, hitting her straps nicely out of the turn before finding Royal Tribute a touch better along the inside.
She'll no doubt take improvement from that effort, but with soft conditions likely under foot, it might be worth monitoring the betting.
15. Trifling (1)Draws to get the gun run along the rail coming off a comfortable win in the City To Surf at Eagle Farm a few weeks ago.
Helen Page's mare got right back in the run along the rail, shifting her way off the fence where she unleashed a nice turn of foot down the outside.
The gelding she beat that day had won his previous four starts, while the third place-getter came out and won by a whopping 10 lengths last Saturday over further.
Providing she gets the right run under Michael Rodd, she could threaten at a good price.
16. Sunset Dreaming (14)Talented type that has gone up a big price for a three-year-old that looks to have a class edge over some of these.
Out of the McEvoy camp, the filly by Impending went close to running a place at Group level during the Melbourne spring, before taking to Ballarat where she was an easy watch winning the Stockade as a short-priced favourite.
Nothing went her way from a similar gate last Saturday, and although she'll lap up the wet conditions, it's tough to entertain her chances from out wide.
17. Zouphoria (6)Went around in search of her hat-trick in the Vo Rogue a fortnight ago where she weakened badly after leading out of the gates.
The Zoustar filly had a bit of work to do to get across from the wide gate, but there has been a bit to like about her previous form down in Sydney.
Barrier 6 should see her roll straight to the front, and with fitness on her side, she'll likely prove hard to run down.
18. Pure Paradise (20)Still searching for her first win despite finding the placings last week when a distant second over much shorter.
She's untried past 1100m and has a very tricky barrier to contend with.
Emergencies
► 19.Show Me Mercy (16)
► 20. Keenan (2)
► 21. Glass Of Rose (3)
► 22. King Of Dubai (5)
► 23. Hellfire Express (19)
