Magic Millions 2YO Classic preview & betting strategy

January 16, 2023 3:00 pm.

What	2023 Magic Millions 2YO Classic
Where	Gold Coast Turf Club – Racecourse Dr, Bundall QLD 4217
When	Thursday, January 19, 2023 \| 2:37pm AEST \| Race 3
Prizemoney	$2,000,000
Distance	1200m
Status	Restricted Listed
Conditions	Set Weights, Two-Year-Old
2022 Winner	Coolangatta (13) \| T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace \| J: James McDonald (55kg)
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The Magic Millions 2YO Classic is always the first of the big races on Australian horse racing calendar, with every horse owner and breeder dreaming of owning a star two-year-old that could win the $2 million feature on the Gold Coast. This years edition of the 2YO Classic could be one of the most open races we have seen in some time, with only five of the 16 runners marked under double figures and many of the runners coming through a number of different form lines. Most of the two-year-olds will race at the 1200m for the first time in their career, with the winner taking $1.16 million in prize money.

Magic Millions 2YO Classic odds

As we mentioned above, online bookmakers have marked four horses under double figures, with Empire Of Japan from the Peter & Paul Snowden yard marked as the favourite at $4.60. The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Platinum Jubilee ($6), the favourites stablemate Sovereign Fund ($6.50) and Tony Gollan-trained Skirt The Law ($7) are next in the market.

Magic Millions 2YO Speedmap analysis

With all two-year-old races, the speed map is difficult to predict, and this no different. However, this year it seems as though we should have a clear leading duo of Royal Entrance and Skirt The Law, who have led the field up in both of their wins to start their career. We expect to see Infatuation, Mishani Renegade, Miss Coota and Fire Lane try to push forward from middle to inside barriers. The backmarkers will feature some of the race favourites with the likes of Empire Of Japan, Sunsource, Sovereign Fund and Empress Of Wonder, all expected to settle at the rear of the field from wide barrier draws.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2023 Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

Magic Millions 2YO Classic form & preview

Gai Waterhouse will be attempting to win her fifth Magic Millions 2YO Classic and her first in partnership with Adrian Bott with three runners in the 2023 edition. We believe that they will be successful this Thursday with Platinum Jubilee being one of the key runners in the 2YO Classic after finishing in the top two at both of her career starts to date. This daughter of Zoustar has shown versatility at her first two starts, settling at the rear of the field in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes over 1000m on debut and she led the field up at her second start at Randwick on December 24 over 1100m. From barrier seven on Thursday, we aren’t sure where this filly will settle in the running as the Waterhouse & Bott team are yet to decide if she is a better backmarker or leader. We believe that Regan Bayliss will jump neutral from the middle barrier and settle her somewhere just worse than midfield and try to replicate that booming finish and impressive win on debut in the Gimcrack.

Peter & Paul Snowden once again hold a strong hand in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, with three runners, including the race favourite Empire Of Japan. This colt couldn’t have been more impressive on debut in the Group 3 Breeders Plate on a Heavy track, as he gave the field a start and a beating, flying home from last on the home turn to record an easy three length victory. This son of Snitzel returned on December 24 at Randwick over 1100m and raced against our top tip Platinum Jubilee and a couple of runners that he will meet on Saturday, however, he seemed like he didn’t enjoy the firm track and looked to peak on his run about 50m from home. There is no doubt in our mind that this colt has above average ability, but we believe Platinum Jubilee will be stronger at the end of 1200m.

The wildcard runner for this year’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic is one of the Annabel Neasham runners in Empress Of Wonder, who has been flying home at the end of 1000m, seemingly chomping at the bit to rise in distance to the 1200m. This daughter of Choisir raced on debut at Flemington in the Group 3 Ottawa Stakes and then returned from a spell in the Listed Calaway Gal at Eagle Farm last start, finishing second both times. The clear and obvious question mark for this filly is that she hasn’t won a race yet, and many of her rivals on Thursday have, but if she gets the race run to suit her get back and run-on racing pattern, she could surprise a few.

Another of the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained runners is Sovereign Fund, who has won both of his career starts at Wyong over 1100m and Doomben over 1200m over the last month. This son of Capitalist was very good last start leading the field up to the home bend in a slowly run race, before kicking clear to record a 3.5 length victory over the likes of Mishani Rengade and Sunscource. However, this colt has been hindered by drawing barrier 17, which leaves the Snowden team and Jamie Kah with a few unwanted pre-race headaches.