Dunn chasing the dream at $2 million Gold Coast 3YO Classic
THE beauty of the Magic Millions this Saturday is that it isn’t always just about the big, rich stables – sometimes, the little guys win big too.
Looking for a change of luck this year is Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn. The New South Wales country stalwart will be represented by two entrants in the $2 million 3YO Guineas this Saturday with Madotti and Dram Of Red.
Dunn lined up Madotti in the 2YO Classic last year, but it didn’t have the best of luck and drawing a horrible barrier this year will make things tough again.
“She finally drew a good gate last time and got the job done,” Dunn said.
“Her entire career has been a hard luck story – if she drew a decent gate she probably would have won the Magic Millions 2YO race last year.
“She wasn’t far away and was posted three and four deep the whole way.”
A wide run is a likely outcome again for Madotti after drawing barrier 16. Tye Angland will again take the ride and Sportsbet.com.au have it rated as a $19 chance.
“She’s a high-quality filly. She won the Vo Rogue comfortably and I think she has improved off that, but the barrier doesn’t help,” Dunn said.
Dram Of Red ($31 at WilliamHill.com.au) didn’t fire in the Vo Rogue but Dunn believes the result doesn’t tell the whole story.
“His run was better than it looks on paper,” Dunn said. “He drew awkwardly and had to go back and then was forced very wide around the home turn.
“You can’t do that at the Gold Coast but I thought his run was ok and nowhere near as bad as it looks.
“His form into that was good on firm ground and I think he’s going to start way over the odds on Saturday.”
2016 Magic Millions 3YO updated market
The Darren Weir-trained Mahuta still holds favouritism at $4.20 after stringing together four consecutive wins in Melbourne.
The three-year-old has drifted out from $4 after receiving barrier 20 earlier this week, but the Flying Spur colt will likely head forward to negate the poor barrier.
One position inside it is Flippant which drew barrier 19, but punters haven’t been put off. The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained filly opened at $6.50 and has come in to $5 on the back of a strong market push.
Other well-backed runners include the Bjorn Baker-trained Egyptian Symbol ($4.60) and Most Important ($13) which has been backed in from $17.
1. Mahuta – $4.20
2. Real Good – $71
3. Most Important – $13
4. Dram Of Red – $31
5. I’m Belucci – $15
6. In His Stride – $51
7. Sir Bacchus – $10
8. Madotti – $15
9. Flippant – $5
10. Sagaronne – $26
11. Typing – $41
12. Single Gaze – $34
13. Flamboyant Lass – $13
14. Atalanta Miss – $41
15. Star Of Night – $81
16. Egyptian Symbol – $4.60
17. We’re Sure – $15
18. Hesitation – $101
19. Shotacross The Bow – $11
20. Saga Of The Storm – $51
21. Perfect Dare – $41