Queensland colt Alpine Edge has staked his claims as a serious Magic Millions contender with another strong victory but the jury is out on Shaquero.
Alpine Edge Wins As Shaquero Disappoints
The Magic Millions Classic has been thrown wide open after nominal favourite Shaquero flopped in the B J McLachlan Stakes at Eagle Farm.
The winner of the Breeders’ Plate on debut at Randwick, Shaquero had been a $4.50 TAB fixed odds favourite for the January 16 feature and a popular $2.25 elect for Saturday’s Group Three race.
However, after racing outside leader and eventual third placegetter Subterranean, Shaquero was the first horse beaten, weakening to finish second last and more than seven lengths from the winner Alpine Edge.
The TAB responded by winding him out to $15 for the Magic Millions with his Chris Waller-trained stablemate She’s All Class the new $4.50 favourite.
Alpine Edge firmed into $6 and co-trainer Toby Edmonds said he hadn’t planned to run the Phelan Ready Stakes winner on Saturday but the colt had done so well he forced his hand.
“He’s a very laid-back guy. Most good horses are, that’s how they present,” Edmonds told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“I wasn’t going to run him until the week before (the Magic Millions)….basically he pulled up so good and he went a bit of even time last Saturday morning and he towed (jockey) Jeff Lloyd up behind another one and I thought, ‘hello, we’d better nominate’.
“His work Tuesday morning was extremely good.”
Alpine Edge ($4.40) made his run along the inside and pulled away to score by a half-length over Baby Wong ($9) with Subterranean ($8) another 2-1/4 lengths in arrears.