Storm Boy holds the call in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic
Storm Boy holds the call and will jump favourite in Saturday’s $3 million Magic Millions 2yo Classic, holding firm at $2.50 after drawing barrier 10, which will come into 9 if the emergency fails to get a run.
A noted front-runner for the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott yard, the unbeaten son of Justify draws two barriers inside of second-favourite Spywire, another established front-runner for the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace yard who remains at $5.50 with online bookmakers having won the Aquid Gold Nugget last week.
It sets up what appears to be a good tempo on paper and one stable that is hoping to capitalise on that is the Tony & Calvin McEvoy yard who will back up last week’s Aquis Gold Pearl winner Arabian Summer, the filly drawing barrier 9- one inside Storm Boy.
A speedy type herself having led her first three starts, Arabian Summer was able to take a sit last week and co-trainer Calvin McEvoy believes the middle draw should be advantageous to employ similar tactics this week.
“I’m happy with it, we wanted to draw probably one to five (but) I think as it played out, the favourite’s drawn one outside us in ten, she’s very versatile, she’ll be positive and she’ll hopefully be in the first four or five with some cover and I think it’s a really good barrier,” McEvoy said.
Arabian Summer raced over 1000m in her first three starts, winning the Ballarat Magic Millions 2yo Classic in December but handled the rise to 1100m last week and the stable is confident the daughter of Too Darn Hot can handle the extra 100m and added pressure on Saturday.
“Early on in her career we probably had her pegged as just a speed, 1000 metre filly but her last two starts she’s shown that she’s versatile, she’ll run out a strong, definitely 1100 and I think with a nice run she’ll certainly run the 12 (hundred) out so I’m very happy with her,” McEvoy said.
Two other horses remain in single figures for Saturday’s feature with the Michael Freedman trained Highness at $6.50, a last start winner of the Wyong Magic Millions 2yo Classic drawing well in barrier 4, and $600,000 Godolphin colt Parkour at $9, drawn the widest barrier in 17.
More Racing News
Selino prepares for Brisbane Cup title defence
Finding suitable races for a dour stayer at this time of year is a challenge for even Australia’s most accomplished horsemen, just ask Chris Waller. Waller has his sights set on Selino defending his Brisbane Cup crown but says working out how to get him there has required a bit of novel...
Antino up for G1 Kingsford Smith Cup challenge
Tony Gollan knows this Saturday’s Kingsford Smith Cup will be the toughest test of Antino’s career, but he is confident the five-year-old can be a factor in the $1 million event. Queensland’s leading trainer has described the 1300-metre event, one of two Group 1 races at Eagle Farm this Saturday, as the race...
Scarlet Oak wins Roses to earn G1 Queensland Oaks favouritism
Chris Waller has labelled Scarlet Oak a “rising star” after the lightly raced filly staked her Group One Queensland Oaks claims with a classy win over stablemate Mare Of Mt Buller in the Doomben Roses. The filly has come a long way in a short time, making a winning debut in New Zealand in...
The Black Cloud descends on Randwick rivals
Having begun the day questioning how well The Black Cloud had come back this campaign, Joe Pride ended it by labelling her a stakes-class horse in the making. The Proven Thoroughbreds filly took her record to three wins from four starts with a rousing first-up victory in Saturday’s Taylor Construction Handicap (1000m)...
Queensland tilt among the options for Neasham 2YO
A belated shot at the Brisbane winter carnival is among the options for lightly raced filly Aemelius after she upstaged a handy field of two-year-olds to win the opening race at Randwick. Having just her second start, the Annabel Neasham-trained youngster, who started at $12 with betting sites, went back to last...
Le Ferrari leads home Lindsay Park quinella at Sandown
A return to Sandown has paid a dividend for Lindsay Park galloper Le Ferrari who led home a one-two finish for Ben, Will and J D Hayes. Le Ferrari over-ran stablemate Rheinberg to claim the Thoroughbred Club Of Australia Handicap (1400m) on Saturday. Ridden by Ben Allen, Le Ferrari ($10) overhauled Rheinberg ($7.50) in the final...
Sargent hoping Casual Connection can earn a Brisbane Cup berth
John Sargent is crossing his fingers that Casual Connection’s narrow victory at Randwick will give him a sufficient ratings boost to squeeze into the field for the Brisbane Cup. A renowned trainer of stayers, Sargent saddled up two runners in the two-mile race last year, Essential Sky who finished fifth and Outlandos ninth, and...
Bois D’Argent upsets rivals in G1 Doomben Cup
Trainer Annabel Neasham has landed a second victory in the Doomben Cup with a horse she said was well over the odds. Imported galloper Bois D’Argent held off a late bid from New Endeavour to follow the win of Zaaki for Neasham in 2021 in the Group 1 2000m weight-for-age contest. Ridden by Blake...
Timely Sandown double for Dan O’Sullivan
The Ballarat stable of Dan O’Sullivan is enjoying a purple patch of form in the metropolitan area which has included a race-to-race double at Sandown. O’Sullivan welcomed back to the winner’s enclosure Way Up High in the Sportsbet Photo Finish Handicap (2400m) before Matriarch Rose took out the Stow Solutions Handicap (1600m) on Saturday. The...
Trip test next for Lady In Pink
A return to Sandown has brought out the best in the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained Lady In Pink who will now be stepped up in trip for a race at Flemington. Lady In Pink took out the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1600m) on Saturday and will head to Flemington for a 2000m...