The Gold Coast hosts its biggest day of the racing calendar on Saturday, with the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and 3YO Guineas both highlights of the card.
In this year's 2YO event, Sydney trained fillies are the dominant favourites as they appear to have the superior form lines.
I’ve gone with an undefeated filly from the Peter and Paul Snowden camp to continue on her winning way.
For the feature 3YO event, I think class will prevail and I’m with the clear top rater who looks set to fly fresh.
Race Track Conditions
The Gold Coast track is currently rated a Soft 5, with the rail out 1.5m from the 900m-400m and True for the remainder of the circuit.
Warm conditions are expected in the lead up to the weekend, so you would expect the track to play in the good range come race day.
The Map
The large 16 horse field will thunder to the first turn with plenty of speed on.
With last week’s Gold Coast meeting downgrading from a slow to heavy surface later in the day and horses chopping up the track, you can expect some lanes to have uneven going.
Will be a good idea to keep an eye on the early races to see if there is no leader bias.
Expect Cusack (6) to take up the running from the good draw, whilst Miss Hellfire (11) and Coolangatta (13) will push across from their wide gates.
Early pressure will also come from Thelwell (5) and Sneaky Starter (10)
They will go at a fast clip, so horses obtaining a nice sit just off the pace, will have an advantage with the long 400M straight providing ample time to reel in the leaders.
The Favourite
Coolangatta ($2) won her two starts to date comfortably, however the even money quote is way unders, for this type of pressure race.
I can see her sitting outside the leader doing her share of work and even if she does happen to cross the field, she will have to burn some energy to do so.
There is doubt hanging over her, given the time she ran at her last start win.
The Maher/ Eustace trained filly no doubt has the talent to win though I think others will also get an easier run in transit.
Russian Conquest $8
Couldn’t have been more impressive at Randwick last start, handing her rivals a 3.3 length belting.
She will be further improved from that run and stepping up to 1200M looks more ideal given the way she ran through the line.
Soaring Ambition was my early tip a couple of weeks back and she did beat Miss Hellfire on debut. She has to contend with a wide gate (20), (16) when emergencies are taken out.
This filly will be better suited back on top of the ground.
She will be back off the speed, in a three wide trail and look to storm home.
Golden Artie is in a similar position, wide out looking for a cart home. Artie is good value at $26 and must be included, especially in the exotics.
1st Russian Conquest
2nd Soaring Ambition
3rd Golden Artie
4th Coolangatta
There are plenty of speedsters who will vie for the lead here.
Snitzonfire (2) will get every chance to take up the running from the low draw and Indiscreetly (18) and Dovetail Diva (16) will punch forward from the wide barriers.
The pace should be on, while they sort their positions early, so again it will be an advantage to be in a trailing position in the run.
Jamaea ($5.50) looks great value at this price.
She appears set for a big run first up as she trialled the house down, motoring home from well back to finish third over 1000M.
1400M will give her plenty of time to settle and commence her run on straightening.
I would expect there will be plenty of backing for her come race time and should start a point or two shorter than the current quote.
Jamaea is the winner of two Group 2 races and was just 4 lengths off In The Congo in the Group 1 Golden Rose.
She will sit off what should be a hectic speed and her powerful finish will take holding out late.
Indiscreetly blitzed her rivals when stepping up to 1600M last start.
That run will give her good fitness levels and will race handy to the lead.
Me Me Lagarde is one who has slipped under the radar a bit.
She has won 3 of her 4 starts and is another who winds up late from back of the field.
King Of Sparta ran very well at listed level when first up.
Hasn’t placed in two second up attempts to date, but has the form to suggest he will be very competitive here.
1st Jamaea
2nd Indiscreetly
3rd Me Me Lagarde
4th King Of Sparta