The Gold Coast hosts its flagship day on Saturday, with the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and 3YO Guineas both highlights of the card.
In this year's 2YO event, the fillies look to have the colts covered. The recent historical record also suggests they will be stronger, with the fillies having taken out the past three editions. I am with one who didn't have much luck last start and can improve sharply here.
For the feature 3YO clash, I have found one who simply looks classes above in a race where a false favourite is engaged.
The Gold Coast track is currently rated a Soft 5, with the rail out 1m from the 1000m-400m and True for the remainder of the circuit.
Fine conditions are expected in the lead up to the weekend, however some showers are predicted on race day.
With rain a factor on race day, a close watch is advised throughout the card to determine any fast lanes or bias.
There is typically always early pressure for the 2YO Magic Millions race and expect nothing different here, with the majority of the field marked as an on-speed profile.
Following plenty of recent racing on the Gold Coast surface, it will be interesting to see if the inside section holds up. Don't be surprised to see mid to wide sections more favoured at this stage of the day.
Expect Finance Tycoon (21) to burn across early from the outside draw in an attempt to cross, however he is likely to be trapped wide with others hunting up inside.
Early pressure will also come from Shaquero (1), Rambeu (10) and Mishani Scandal (17).
There is no doubt they should roll along at a fast clip, with a genuine advantage for those sitting just in behind the speed, in the moving line.
Swift Witness ($3.80) improved sharply from the Wyong Magic Millions effort to win well here last start and does have a sense of timing.
She is now well exposed to the market and the price is no spoil, however she was ultra impressive last time out and warrants the attention.
Gate 11 is perfect and if they find cover in the first half of this field, she should be awfully hard to hold out.
I would caution that the price is now rock bottom and I expect much better odds than $3.80 on the day.
Miss Hipstar experienced a torrid run here last start, where she was trapped wide and was never a hope behind Swift Witness.
That run is a complete forgive and given more luck on this occasion, she can be right in the finish. Looks big odds at the current $19.
She's All Class comes via the proven Wyong Magic Millions path, where she won as she liked when appearing classes above.
She has plenty of X factor and just has to handle a high pressure race to be going very close.
Although very well found now, Swift Witness must be included in everything.
The market has found her early due to the last start heroics, however I expect her price to drift as bigger players take her on late. I advise waiting to back her on race day if you are keen.
Fake Love is likely to be ridden back in the field on this occasion and I like the change of tactics here, where she will be given every chance to hit the line hard. Trust Bossy to slot her in the moving line before peeling at just the right time.
1st Miss Hipstar
2nd She's All Class
3rd Swift Witness
4th Fake Love
Apache Chase (1) and Boomnova (15) are the two most likely to press forward and take up the running.
Away Game (3) also typically shows speed and her inside draw should allow her to punch up into the firing line early.
Expect the tempo to be moderate, with those racing close to speed in the moving line to hold some advantage here.
Isotope ($2.50) looks a great risk here. He faces a high quality field for the first time and is forced to take on some highly talented Sydney horses.
This will be a big test and due to his dangerous racing pattern of coming from well back in the field, he may be found out on this occasion due to the better competition.
I would expect a few of the big syndicates to take him on late and the current $2.50 quote should be as low as it gets. Avoid.
Forbidden Love could be a potential superstar to my eye and looks to have a clear class edge on this field. The stable had the confidence to enter her at Group 1 level over the Flemington carnival, where she only just missed when 3 of 13 in the Empire Rose.
Expect her to sit just in behind the leading pair before braining them all.
Away Game is the other high quality runner who has to be respected.
She has good tactical speed and can use this to full advantage from the good draw in gate 3. She won the 2YO race on this day last year and clearly knows how to navigate around the tight Gold Coast circuit.
Apache Chase is drawn to do no work from gate 1 and could slow them mid race for a cheap lead. If he did secure some slow sectionals mid-race, he does have the ability to kick hard off the front.
Isotope comes up way under the odds ($2.50) against a field of strong quality, the likes of which he has never faced before.
He will get back and does have an electric turn of foot. Expect him to rattle home when it is all over, however the bird will have flown.
1st Forbidden Love
2nd Away Game
3rd Apache Chase
4th Isotope