Spywire’s 2024 Magic Millions Classic quest back on track

Spywire emphatically declared his Magic Millions campaign back on track with a brilliant win in Saturday’s $150,000 Gold Nugget on the Gold Coast.

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained colt made a one-act affair of the 1100-metre event that was a last-gasp qualifier for next Saturday’s $3 million Magic Millions Classic (1200m).

The son of Trapeze Artist was controversially beaten at his previous start, when run down by Highness in the Wyong 2YO Classic, and Maher was relieved to see him bounce back after a change of plan earlier in the week.

“With the weather earlier in the week the plan was to have a trial and give him a nice gallop into the Magic Millions, but the way the weather worked out we gave him an easy gallop on the synthetic track and have this race to bring him up to the mark,” Maher said.

“He is a fresh horse so I thought the race seven days out would help him go up to the 1200 (metres) as well.

“With today’s run under his belt he’ll be spot on.”

Spywire now shares the $6 second line with betting sites alongside Highness in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic market, which is headed by Gai Waterhouse and Adrain Bott’s unbeaten Justify colt Storm Boy ($2.50).

James Mcdonald will partner Spywire next week, but Craig Williams was aboard in the Gold Nugget and the top Melbourne jockey to him to customary leading position and let the $1.45 favourite slide clear early in the straight to open a race-winning lead.

Beau Dazzler ($21) closed late to cut the margin to 2-1/4 lengths at the line with Defiant Boom ($8) 2-1/2 lengths away third. The time was 1:03.28.

“It was pretty easy for me jumping aboard…itis nice to ride a horse of this calibre,” Williams said.

“He’s a very competitive horse, which is a good thing to have, but he is very competitive.”