Portelli chasing Magic Millions bonus money

Falconic
Falconic looks to give trainer Gary Portelli and its connections an all-female bonus at the Magic Millions

GARY Portelli lines up Falconic in Saturday’s $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, but there’s more prizemoney on offer for the talented colt.

There is an additional $500,000 for the first all-female owned or leased horse to cross the line – with the winner getting $325,000. There are only four runners eligible for the bonus and Portelli believes it’s not only a chance at the bonus, but winning it all.

“The bonus is worth the same as the Inglis race we won with She Will Reign,” Portelli said. “We have a very good colt that has a big chance of beating the other (eligible horses) in that race and I think he is up to winning the whole thing.

“We will be riding him cold, because that is how he likes to race and he will be charging late. He has a short, sharp sprint, which can be very effective in a race like this one.”

The $26 chance at CrownBet.com.au sat on the speed when finishing third on debut, but it flashed home from the back to win last start and Portelli believes riding it cold is the best recipe for success.

Bet365.com

“He won his first trial and then got run down at his second trial by a Godolphin horse, but in the third trial we rode him cold and he flew home,” Portelli said.

“That first race, they just didn’t go hard at all and he was outside the lead and it is not the way to ride him. In the second run we went back and he really hit the line again.

“That is what we will do in the Magic Millions. Hopefully get the sweet spot behind the speed and let him have the last run at them.

“There looks to be a lot of speed in the race, so I’m hoping they don’t all fall into the trick that because of all the speed, we will (look to) take a sit. It looks like a race that sets up well for him from the good gate.”

Portelli is chasing more big money with Straturbo in the Magic Millions Sprint. Straturbo won the Sprint two years ago before the cash injection to $1 million, but Portelli thinks Zafina is a great winning chance in the Magic Millions Maiden.

“It is 1200 metres now, which is probably not in his favour, but he (Straturbo) has a good gate,” Portelli said.

“My best chance away from the two-year-old is Zafina in the Maiden.

“Ben Melham is wasting to ride her at 54kg and she deserves a win. She is the quietest horse we have but she finds ways to injure herself.

“I wanted to run her in the (Magic Millions) Guineas but she had a few setbacks, meaning we go first-up into this race and (the horse) is ready to go.”

Goldman expecting big things from Eckstein

Goulburn trainer Kurt Goldman has always expected big things from three-year-old filly Eckstein, and now it gets its chance to perform on the big stage.

The daughter of I Am Invincible lines up in Saturday’s Magic Millions 3YO Guineas as a $14 chance at Palmerbet and Goldman believes it once had the measure of a former stable star.

“I always thought she had the measure of Hellbent when they were young. She was that good. He was just more professional and was able to do it a lot more quickly,” Goldman said.

“She just needed to mature and Heather (Boland) spent a lot of time getting her to do that. We took her away to Queensland and just had to get her to relax.

“She had bad racing manners, bad barrier manners and flipped over in the gates once. She was one of those horses that needed a personal touch.

“(Eckstein) actually just wanted to fight with anyone who tried to stand over her but Heather worked with her. Heather just worked with her and has got her to this point, she should take a lot of the credit.

“I would still say she is not there yet but she is good enough to win four in a row and get to the race we have targeted.”

Eckstein is the third favourite behind odds-on chance Winning Rupert and multiple Group one-winner Global Glamour. Goldman knows the quality of the opposition, but is confident about its chances.

“I’m very confident in my horse, I know Winning Rupert is very good but I think she is going to be better at the 1400m and wouldn’t swap her,” Goldman said.

“If you look at last week’s win, Brenton had to burn the candle at both ends over 1200m and she still was very strong at the line.

“We have thought that she is going to get a mile and the way the race will be run should suit her.”

Madeenaty shouldn’t be overlooked in 2YO Classic

We outlined earlier this week that Madeenaty is an overlooked runner in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and co-trainer David Hayes agrees.

The two-year-old filly has shown enough speed this season to suggest the $8 at Bet365.com is worth taking and drawing the inside barrier is ideal.

“I think she’s been overlooked in the market,” Hayes said. “I’m not sure why. I wouldn’t swap her for any other runner from that barrier and her work in the lead-up has been great.”

Hayes has finished second on five occasions in the 2YO Classic (Mahaasin, Trustful, St. Covet, Churchill Downs, Husson Lightning), but he refuses to call the race a ‘hoodoo’.

WilliamHill.com.au

“I wouldn’t call it a hoodoo race as my runners have run well, but they’ve made a habit of finishing second,” Hayes said.

“It’s only a matter of time until we win one.”

Hayes also lines up Dam Ready in the 3YO Guineas which hasn’t been well-backed at $35. Hayes believes his runner is capable, but will need to perform at a higher level.

“Dam Ready has solid form and he’s a consistent horse but he’s against a really good horse in Winning Rupert,” Hayes said.

“He’s got to measure up to this level.”

Situation normal for Baker ahead of Magic Millions

Bjorn Baker is no stranger to lining up a Magic Millions favourite – he did so when Unencumbered won the 2YO Classic in 2014 as the $3.20 elect, but there’s more pressure this time around.

Baker lines up unbeaten colt Winning Rupert which is currently the $1.50 favourite at Sportsbet. Baker said he is happy with how the son of Written Tycoon has worked in preparation for the $2 million co-feature.

“You can’t change it,” Baker said. “I’m probably lucky that I’ve been in this situation with Unencumbered before.

“You just hope everything goes right until Saturday but at this stage, we couldn’t be happier with him.

“He had a good gallop last Friday so he’s right where we want him.”

Winning Rupert hasn’t been tested this campaign with its last two victories coming in stellar fashion. Baker admits he was surprised with the ease of its wins this preparation.

“He’s always shown a lot of ability but I’ve been a bit surprised with the way he has done it this time in,” Baker said.

“The fact that he has shown so much speed, he has got the front easy and blitzed away is a surprise.”

Jeff Lloyd has ridden Winning Rupert in all five of its career starts and the 55-year-old will continue his association with the colt on Saturday.

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