In-form colt Pierata has continued to receive the lion’s share of attention in our market and is set to jump a clear favourite in Saturday’s Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) on the Gold Coast.
The son of Pierro immediately stamped himself as a horse to follow when he debuted as a two-year-old, but he has furnished into a serious racehorse this time and is a $2.45 favourite to win the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas at the time of publish.
BET NOW: 2018 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas
Sent to the paddock after finishing mid-field in the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) at Doomben in June, Pierata justified his race favouritism with a comfortable three-length triumph in the Winning Rupert Plate (1200m) first-up on December 2nd.
Pierata missed the kick in the Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m) on December 16th, but was the run of the race late when he flew home to finish a close second behind the Magic Millions-bound Whypeeo.
Having returned to winning form with another dominant performance in the Group 3 Vo Rouge Plate (1350m) a fortnight ago, Pierata has drawn on the rails for his fourth-up assignment and will be ridden by regular hoop Corey Brown.
Gate 1 isn’t necessarily the best place to be at the Gold Coast, but with the right luck in transit Pierata should prove extremely tough to beat.
Only one other horse is currently available at Magic Millions 3YO Guineas odds of less-than $10 and Sasso Corbaro ($5.50) subsequently looms as the major threat to Pierata in this race.
Sasso Corbaro has only made five competitive appearances at the races since debuting in June, but is yet to finish worse than second and is seeking a third-consecutive win since resuming in December.
An easy winner over 1100m at Hawkesbury first-up, the All Too Hard filly was backed into odds-on favouritism ahead of a 1300m sprint at Randwick on the 30th and was again far too good for her rivals; beating Kissing Game by close to four lengths.
Depending on how the track is playing, a wider draw may prove ideal for Sasso Corbaro in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas and she will be hard to hold out in the dying stages of the race.
There’s plenty of value surrounding several other runners in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas field and each of Goodfella ($10), Calculated ($11) and Bel Sonic ($16) are live chances at genuine each-way odds.
Saddled by Bjorn Baker, who has experienced plenty of success at the Magic Millions in seasons gone by, Goodfella finished second in the Group 3 McLachlan Stakes (1200m) on the final day of 2016 before finishing a credible fourth in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m); three lengths off winner Houtzen.
Posting consecutive wins early in his Spring Carnival campaign, including the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) on October 21st, the Snitzel colt was simply outclassed in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m), but has enjoyed a return to the Queensland way of going and was last seen working to the line for third behind Pierata in the Vo Rogue Plate.
Calculated has been running well amongst similar company in Sydney this time and will be boosted by the addition of Hugh Bowman this weekend.
Calculated resumed for second in an 1100m sprint at Randwick on December 16th, before working home well to finish third over 1200m on Boxing Day. A step up in trip and down in weight is ideal and it would not be a surprise to see the horse right in the finish of the 3YO Guineas.
Bel Sonic has returned to racing in slick form this time and arguably represents the best value for money at the time of publish.
The talented son of Bel Esprit dug deep to win over 1000m at Pakenham first-up, before producing another strong performance to win the Vobis Gold Carat (1200m) last time out. There is something of a query over the horse’s ability at 1400m, but he is as tough as they come and has the edge over several of his rivals in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.