A number of Magic Millions hopefuls stepped out at the Randwick trials this morning, including the current favourite for the Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m), Coolangatta.
The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained filly stamped her claim as the top two-year-old in the country with a brilliant trial win against older fillies and mares in Heat 5 (1050m).
Coolangatta was an eye-catcher in her first trial, which subsequently saw her start a very firm +150 favourite in her debut, where she dominated her rivals to claim a 3.4-length victory in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) on October 2 at Royal Randwick.
Ridden by Tommy Berry in this morning's trial, Coolangatta settled second in the run behind Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott's Redoute's Soul, before cruising up past that filly to win by 0.58 lengths under a tight hold.
Coolangatta is set to step out on Boxing Day at Doomben in the Group 3 BJ McLachlan Stakes (1200m), where she will be reunited with James McDonald.
The filly by Written Tycoon is the standout +125 favourite for the $2 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 15, where she sits third in the order of entry.
Also impressing in her trial this morning was Mark Newnham's unraced two-year-old Asteria.
The daughter of Capitalist is a full sister to Profiteer and seems to have inherited plenty of the same genes, clearing out to win her trial in the fastest time (43.25s) of the six 740m runs.
Prior to the filly's trial, Asteria was rated a +20000 chance in the Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic, but she has now firmed into +5000 following her win in Heat 9.
No plans have not been locked in for the horse yet, but the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1100m) is a possibility next Wednesday, the same race that her sire won in 2015 in his second career start en route to winning the Gold Coast feature and the Golden Slipper Stakes.
Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young's colt Cusack sits atop the order of entry for the Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic after his narrow win in the Ballarat Magic Millions 2YO Clockwise Classic (1000m) on November 20, while local galloper Mishani Warfare sits second in the ballot with $85,850 under his belt having had three starts for one win and two minor placings.
Following the heavily backed Coolangatta in the betting for the Gold Coast feature are the first two runners past the post in the Clockwise Classic – Cusack and Cover Star – at +1200 apiece, ahead of New Zealand filly Bright Blue Sky at +1400.