Blinkers to boost Cifrado's Magic Millions bid

By Glenn Davis

The training partnership of Rex Lipp and Nick Hahn is leaving no stone unturned in its bid to have its first Magic Millions 2YO Classic starter at the Gold Coast next month.

Cifrado is a borderline contender with $33,400 in prize money for the $2 million feature on January 14 and is currently 24th in the order of entry for the 16-horse field.

Lipp and Hahn will give Cifrado his final chance to cement a Magic Millions berth in the Group 3 B. J. McLachlan Stakes over 1200 metres at Doomben on Saturday.

Cifrado is still a maiden and untried over 1200 metres but Lipp believes the colt is looking for the distance after finishing second at his only two starts.

In a bid to gain a Magic Millions start, Lipp will use blinkers on Cifrado for the first time.

Lipp felt the son of Encryption was run off his feet over 900 metres at the Gold Coast on debut last month.

However, he showed significant improvement putting up a brave showing when second to the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Godfather in the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes over 1000 metres at Eagle Farm on December 10.

“He was three wide in the Phelan Ready and if he can manage a place, he’ll probably make the Magic Millions,” Lipp said.

“I don’t normally target two-year-old races, that’s why I’ve never had a Magic Millions starter.

“He’s never been over 1200 metres but I can’t see what he won’t get it and I’m using blinkers on him for the first time.”

Cifrado was a $320,000 buy as a yearling and is a half-brother to Tony Gollan’s former flyer Miami Fleiss, a winner of five of her nine starts and more than $430,000 in prize money.

The Bruce McLachlan has attracted a small but quality field of nine starters including five interstate raiders.

Trainer Chris Munce will be aiming to bolster his Magic Millions stocks with Freeman, who will be trying to join stablemate Miss Coota who is assured of a start with $85,400 in prize money.

Freeman is 18th in order of entry with prize money just below $50,000.

Miss Coota – a Craig Williams mount – has been Queensland’s standout two-year-old this season, winning her only two starts by big margins.

The Spirit Of Boom filly won by more than seven lengths on debut over 1000 metres at Eagle Farm in October, then showed her versatility winning by five lengths on a heavy track at Doomben two weeks later.

Munce has never won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic as a trainer but did win the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas with Boomsara in 2019.

He has tried to win the Magic Millions 2YO Classic three times as a trainer with Ours To Keep, Champ Elect and Kavak but came home empty-handed each time.

As a jockey, Munce won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic three times aboard Sunblazer (1989), Excellerator (2001) and Dance Hero (2004).