Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic Field Finalised For Race Day
A capacity field of 16 with a further five emergencies has been assembled for the $2 million 2YO Classic, while 18 runners will take their place in the Guineas, with five emergencies also sweating on a run.
In the 1200m 2YO Classic, there will be an even split of eight fillies and eight colts and/or geldings.
Topping the weights is the winner of the Ballarat Magic Millions 2YO Clockwise Classic, Cusack, with the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained colt having his first start since his November 20 debut win.
Les Ross will saddle up three horses in the race, Mishani Warfare, Mishani Spartan and Mishani Persuasion, with the possibility of a fourth should second emergency Spanish Angels gain a start.
Peter & Paul Snowden are also well represented, with Saturday’s Aquis Gold Pearl winner Miss Hellfire set to take her place, along with her undefeated stablemate, Russian Conquest, with Revolutionary Miss the third of the Snowden-trained fillies currently the third emergency.
Russian Conquest by @NewgateFarm’s Russian Revolution out of G1 winning Artie Schiller mare My Conquestadory makes it two from two after taking out Race 1 @royalrandwick.
A $425k purchase for @SnowdenRacing1 from the 2021 @mmsnippets Gold Coast Ylg Sale.— Thoroughbred Daily News AusNZ (@TDNAusNZ) December 26, 2021
The current odds-on favourite, Coolangatta, will jump with the number nine on her saddlecloth, with James McDonald once again in the saddle in his quest to win his first Magic Millions 2YO Classic, completing a massive six months.
Five runners in the final field of 16 will be looking to become the sixth two-year-old in the past eight years to run in either the Gold Nugget or the Gold Pearl and go on to win the $2 million feature seven days later.
Also on a relatively quick turnaround is Sharyn Livingstone’s Friday night winner, Thelwell.
Thelwell, a $25,000 purchase at last year’s Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sales, has already won three times his purchase price, after running a very game second to Coolangatta in the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes on December 26 at Doomben.
Coming out of the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic is Soaring Ambition (1st) and Miss Hellfire (2nd), with that form franked after Miss Hellfire won at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Soaring Ambition wins the Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic soaring home from last to first @WyongRaceClub! Timed perfectly from @TommyBerry21 for @ANeashamRacing. pic.twitter.com/mLUBmZOvNU
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 15, 2021
After starting a short-priced favourite with the online bookmakers at her next start, Soaring Ambition was defeated by the locally trained Golden Artie for Bryan & Daniel Guy.
Rounding out the field of 16 is New Zealand filly, Bright Blue Sky, who looks to improve on her Australian debut when fourth behind Coolangatta on Boxing Day.
The Jamie Richards-trained filly was an impressive winner on debut at Listed level at Te Rapa, before coming to Australia in a bid to win Saturday’s feature race.