Magic Millions 2YO Classic - form analysis

By Dylan Mutu

With the 2024 $14.75 million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday only days away, the excitement around the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic is heating right up.

It has been an exciting build-up towards one of Australia’s most-prized juvenile races, filled with eye-catching performances, market movers, surprise barrier draws and a couple of interesting jockey changes.

Although, the question is still up in the air of who will be good enough this Saturday. Here is a look at the top contingent of runners and overall pick for this weekend.

STORM BOY (Barrier 10) | SP  - $2.40

The favourite, and deservingly so.

In his short career so far, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained galloper is already a Group-level winner after an impressive Group 3 B.J. McLachlan performance a fortnight ago.

A $470,000 purchase at the 2023 Magic Millions Sale, the son of Justify has oozed talent at his last two appearances, giving punters confidence that he’s capable on the big stage and more importantly, able to run out the 1200-metre distance.

The 2YO Classic is widely known as a race that can be hard to pick due to such a light racing experience across the field, leaving favourtism a skeptical factor. Although Storm Boy backers can breathe a sigh of relief, as favourites have won the past two runnings.

Although, Storm Boy will have some work ahead of him after drawing barrier 10 on Tuesday morning, with Spywire and Arabian Summer drawn on either side of him. But if anything, Gai Waterhouse certainly knows how to win this event – chasing her fifth 2YO Classic – and with Adam Hyeronimus in the saddle, the favourite is in good hands.

VERDICT: Third pick. Really not a fan of the short quote but can’t deny his ability.

SPYWIRE (Barrier 12) | SP  - $5.50

It’s been a less than ideal preparation for Spywire, but if his last-start performance was anything to go by, the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace stable would be very happy heading into this Saturday’s big dance.

Punters –  and subsequently connections – were left reveling after the colt’s dramatic second placing in the Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic a fortnight ago, but it’s safe to say we saw a different turn of events in his Aquis Gold Nugget bout over the weekend.

With Craig Williams in the saddle this time around, the two-year-old made every post a winner in the 1100 metre scamper, and when he was given a squeeze by Williams in the straight, he responded with a neat turn-of-foot to run away with a soft victory – everything you want to see.

With two wins now under his belt and the services of superstar hoop James McDonald in saddle this Saturday, the $520,000 purchase looks box-seated to repeat the feats of filly Coolangatta and give David Eustace a nice ‘send-off present’ before his stint in Hong Kong.

The only thing that may cause any issue could be barrier 12, but they have the best rider in the business to handle that.

VERDICT: J-Mac factor a massive tick, just weary of the wide draw outside the favourite.

ARABIAN SUMMER (Barrier 9) | SP  - $7.50

Three weeks off her impressive Ballarat Magic Million 2YO Classic victory, the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained Arabian Summer certainly lived up to her short quote in the Aquis Gold Pearl at the weekend.

Despite a tardy jump, the filly remained poised throughout the race and was able to let down with sizzling run up the centre of the track when asked to go by an in-form Harry Coffey at his first Gold Coast appearance.

Using the same lead-up as they did with Sunlight in 2018 – running a week before – co-trainer Calvin McEvoy was confident that Arabian Summer will be ready to strike on the quick back-up in his post-race interview from the weekend.

With two neat victories – one at a 1000 metres (Ballarat) and more recently 1100 metres (Gold Coast) –the question remains on whether she can step up to the 1200 metres.

After running a faster time then the boys in the Aquis Gold Nugget, I believe she is every chance to have more gas in the tank in the dying stages with the lighter weight come Saturday afternoon.

VERDICT: Top pick. With barrier (8 after emergencies) I think she’s poised to get a nice sit off the speed. If she gets clear air in the straight, she’ll be storming home with 55kg on her back.

HIGHNESS (Barrier 4) | SP  - $6

The Michael Freedman-trained colt Highness stole the limelight at the barrier draw on Tuesday morning after landing the gun spot in four – the best of the favourites in the field.

Sporting the famous colours of leading bloodstock agent James Harron, the $900,000 purchase is looking to emulate the feats of Capitalist in 2016 this Saturday afternoon and if his win at Wyong was anything to go by, he’s every chance.

Yes, it looked like Spywire may have switched off late in that race, but the way Highness finished over the 1100 metres was impressive and should give Highness backers extreme confidence to run out the 1200 metres with ease.

With a winning trial under his belt, Highness will be fresh coming into this Saturday which is an obvious query, although with a gun draw and Tommy Berry in the saddle I can see him rounding out the top two.

VERDICT: Second pick. The barrier draw has solidified his chances to run a huge race. He’s been lightly kept by the Freedman barn, and the look on Tommy Berry’s face after winning the Wyong Classic suggests he’s got big upside. Serious threat.

PARKOUR (Barrier 17) | $10

It was a cruel blow for James Cummings and the Godolphin team on Tuesday morning after drawing the widest barrier in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

Bookmakers were quick to wind the ‘Royal Blue’ two-year-old back out to double-figures after Tuesday’s results, and if the history of the race is anything to go by, you can understand why.

Queensland star Houtzen is the only horse that has taken out the race from the widest barrier over the past two decades, so you could say Godolphin’s chances to repeat the feats of Exhilarates in 2017 will be tough. But, his last couple of starts should give you some positivity.

His run in the Ballarat Magic Millions 2YO Classic – second place against Arabian Summer – suggested he needed further, and it was his last-start triumph at Rosehill over the 1200 metres which backed up that theory – big tick.

Multiple Group 1-winning trainer James Cummings has called on the services of Jamie Kah to steer the juvenile, but she’ll need some serious luck on the day if she was to get over from that draw.

VERDICT: Just don’t think he can do it from that draw, but anything is possible in this race. He’ll be coming home strong, but will it be too late?

POSTER GIRL (Barrier 6) | $31

Chris Munce has won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on three occasions as a jockey, and the champion hoop has now pinned his hopes on his filly Poster Girl to win him his first ever 2YO Classic as a trainer.

She was a $160,000 purchase at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale for Chris Munce, and she’s already acquired a cool $120,000 in prizemoney at her three race runs to date.

At her first start, she produced a stunning display to win over the 1000 metres after missing the start, proving she’s incredibly versatile no matter how the race takes shape. And in her last start in the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan, she ran a gutsy second place against Storm Boy.

If the filly shows up with the class she’s been flashing lately, I feel she could be right in the finish if the race favourites don’t get luck.

VERDICT: Best value. Great draw, great form and a gun jockey, it could well and truly be a Robbie Dolan special on Saturday.