The Magic Millions Classic is the first major race of 2017 and as per usual it has drawn an interesting field of precocious two-year-olds.
Houtzen looked likely to start the race as a clear favourite, but the race was thrown a curveball when he was allocated the outside barrier draw and it is From Within that is now the punter’s elect.
There are plenty of winning chances in what is a fairly open race and you can find out thoughts of every single runner below.
Ours To Keep
Ours To Keep has done absolutely nothing wrong during his racing career to date and he has shown an impressive will to win. They were not particularly high-rating performances of either the Phelan Ready Stakes or the BJ McLachlan Stakes, but you can’t knock winning form and he is a horse that has shown he is able to finish over the top of his rivals. He has probably found his right price, but he is definitely one of the leading contenders.
Goodfella
Goodfella showed no early speed in the McLachlan Stakes, but he was still able to close strongly to finish second behind Ours To Keep. The wide barrier draw is somewhat of an issue for him as he is likely to get a long way back and he will need plenty of luck in running to be a factor in the finish.
Bring It Home Pop
Bring It Home Pop was far from disgraced in the McLachlan Stakes, but he would obviously need to improve significantly on that effort to be a genuine winning chance in this race. $71 is a touch of overs, but I wouldn’t want to be diving in in a race of this quality.
Chauffeur
Chauffeur topped the sale at the Magic Millions Yearling Sales last year. He won in fairly impressive fashion on debut, but there is little doubt that he took a step backwards when beaten at Canterbury last start. He will likely get a long way back and I am more than happy to oppose him
Falconic
Falconic was beaten by Chauffeur on debut, but produced a much improved performance to win at Rosehill Gardens last start. He is a horse that is heading in the right direction and I think that he is a better chance than Chauffeur, but his racing style and the fact that Koby Jennings will take the ride makes him a tough sell to punters.
Saxton Rock
This is a huge step-up in class from a Class one event at Murwillumbah. It is easy to see why Saxton Rock is the extreme outsider of this field.
Arrestar
Everything that was said about Saxton Rock can be said about his stablemate Arrestar. Would require a massive improvement to be competitive at this level.
Madeenaty
Madeenaty looked like a star in the making when she won the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes, but she was beaten when unlucky at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day and she only just fell in when she won the Wyong Magic Millions Classic. There is no doubt that she hasn’t been able to replicate her debut effort, but if she can find that level again she will be right in this race. She will settle in the first six in running and will be right in the race.
Champ Elect
Champ Elect is the second Chris Munce runner in this field. The figures coming out of the Calaway Gal Stakes were not particularly impressive and you would have to assume that she will get a fair way back from this barrier. It is tough to see her winning.
Invincible Star
Invincible Star is the value runner in the Magic Millions Classic. She has only been seen at the races once, but she won in most impressive fashion at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day and her recent barrier trial at Wyong was excellent. She has the early speed to put herself right in the race from the outside barrier, Tim Clark is riding extremely well and Gai Waterhouse has an excellent record in this race. She is over the odds at the current price of $8.50.
Houtzen
Houtzen showed that she was a talented filly with her dominant win at Doomben on dent and she improved again when she ran serious time at the Gold Coast. The wide barrier draw obviously makes things interesting, but she does have plenty of early speed and Jeff Lloyd is an aggressive rider that will attempt to find the lead. She is still deserving of her status as one of the favourites and I will definitely have her on my side.
Madame Moustache
Madame Moustache won the Victory Vein Plate and looked to be heading in the right direction, but she was fairly poor in the Wyong Magic Millions Classic. You couldn’t possibly back her in this race off that effort.
From Within
From Within is the real x-factor runner in the Magic Millions Classic. She didn’t run particularly good time on debut at Canterbury, but she is clearly a horse with an enormous amount of upside and she must be very good to have Chris Waller setting her for this race. Both Hugh Bowman and Glyn Schofield have been brimming in praise for the filly and she maps to get a lovely run in transit. She is the toughest horse in this race to analyse and I am still not really sure what to make of her, but I am willing to take her on at the current price.
Real Princess
Real Princess was handily beaten in both the Calaway Gal Stakes and the BJ McLachlan Stakes. I would be surprised if she even goes close in this race.
Colosimo
Colosimo made a strong start to her racing career and she got an extremely long way back in the BJ McLachlan Stakes. I think that she is a better horse than that performance suggests, but I still don’t think she is up to winning a race of this quality.
Cellargirl
Cellargirl did the job fairly on debut, but she was no match for Houtzen at Doomben on Christmas Eve. It is tough to see her turning-the-tables on her rival.
Tiara Star
Tiara Star is the first emergency and requires a scratching to earn a start in the Magic Millions Classic. She ran fairly in the BJ McLachlan Stakes, but would need to find plenty of improvement to win this race.
Invader
Invader is the second emergency in the Magic Millions Classic field. He chased home From Within last start and she looks to have him covered fairly easily.
Imaginalthepeople
Imaginalthepeople is the third emergency in the Magic Millions Classic field.
Zukaz
Zukas is the fourth emergency in the Magic Millions Classic field.
Gwapo
Gwapo is the fifth emergency in the Magic Millions Classic field.