Duric chases maiden Magic Millions win

By Craig Brennan (Racing & Sports)

A fit and healthy Vlad Duric will chase a maiden win in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast.

After more than 30 years in the saddle, Vlad Duric will have his first ride in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the rescheduled Gold Coast meeting on Friday night. 

The Victorian raised jockey who plied his trade in Singapore for the best part of 15 years, has called Brisbane home for the past 10 months since returning to Australia. 

A short stint in Melbourne during winter to oversee his daughter Sage's initial foray into race riding coincided with Duric taking a break to get a niggling knee injury right. 

Since returning to the saddle last month, Duric has that hunger back and would love nothing more than to add another big purse to his haul of winners. 

"Everything has really come good in the last a couple of weeks," Duric said. 

"I took three months off with my knee problems. It took a little while to get up to fitness again to be honest being that little bit older age, and I don't really want to be having that long off again. 

"But in the last couple of weeks I've really tightened up and I'm starting to feel really bouncing and good, which is great. 

"I'm really motivated, and I want to win another good race, so I'm looking forward to Friday." 

Duric partners Secret Sort in Friday night's $3 million race for two-year-olds, a horse he partnered for the first time when fourth in the BJ McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on December 21. 

He said Secret Sort did not have a lot of luck in Brisbane last time after filling placings in his previous three starts at Doomben. 

"He's very fast out of the machine," Duric said. 

"He showed a lot of speed at his first few starts, but they wanted me to ride him from behind the other day. He got into that position nicely but then got stuck back on the inside and didn't get a lot of room in the straight. 

"He's a horse that is from a low draw and he will take up a forward position in the race and probably be right behind the leaders. 

"He's a very well educated, bombproof, two-year-old but he's just a little on the small side so that's the only thing with him, but he's going to make his own luck and be there and you know he could definitely pick up a fat end of the cheque." 

The Magic Millions 2YO Classic was held over from last Saturday when rain washed out the meeting after the first three races had been run. 

On speed and near fence had been a plus before the meeting was called off. 

"I'd imagine it would be similar on Friday and one thing with my bloke is he's good on both good and wet ground," Duric said.