Storm Boy remains favourite for Magic Millions after barrier draw
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 and Adrian Bott yard, the unbeaten son of Justify draws two barriers inside of second-favourite Spywire, another established front-runner for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace yard, who remains at $5.50 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 and 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.
Watch, Stream & Catch Up with your favourite Horse Racing events on the home of Seven’s Horse Racing coverage 7plus >>
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.
Meanwhile, connections of the two narrow favourites for Saturday’s Magic Millions 3yo Guineas would’ve been pleased but the market has remained largely unaffected, Chrysaor just holding the call at $5 from Cifrado at $5.50.
Toowoomba based trainer Rex Lipp’s Cifrado beat Chris Waller’s Chrysaor last start in the Group 3 Magic Millions Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) having lined up on opposite sides of the draw but will jump next to each other, Cifrado in barrier seven and Chrysaor in eight.
A full field of 18 with five emergencies has been assembled for the $3 million race, run under set weights and penalties conditions, meaning the two favourites, both as Group 2 winners, will carry equal top weight of 58kg.
With three of the five emergencies drawn barriers five or lower, the pair would jump from barriers four and five provided there are no scratchings.
The horse with the least experience in the race is Sydney Bowler who is undefeated from three starts and also sits at $5.50 despite drawing barrier 17, which will come into 14 if the emergencies fail to get a run.
The John O’Shea trained son of Deep Field was a smart winner of a benchmark 72 at Randwick last start with Jason Collett retaining the ride.
The only other horse in single figures is Abounding, a filly by Rich Enuff trained by Robert Heathcote who has remained firm at $7.50 after drawing well in barrier nine, which is likely to come into six.
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott have the warm favourite for the Magic Millions 2yo Classic with Storm Boy and will be represented by at least three runners in the Guineas- the most of any stable. Royal Tribute ($10) drew 11, last week’s Magic Millions Maiden Plate winner Vanquished ($23) drew wide in 22 and Zouphoria ($23) drew barrier six.
– RAS NewsWire
