Problem Solver has broken her maiden in the best way possible this morning; holding on to beat Shesees Everything in the Magic Millions Maiden (1200m) on the Gold Coast.
Problem Solver was sent off a $10 shot in our market and took a good position within the field as resounding favourite Dinnigan, Our Netbank and Missile Strike took up the early running.
Enjoying a nice run in transit, the Hinchinbrook filly found a gap between runners as the field straightened and immediately responded when asked for an extra effort by Robbie Fradd; powering clear and fighting on to the line to hold out a late challenge from the Tony Gollan-trained $81 pop.
Trainer Gerald Ryan was pleased with Problem Solver’s performance and revealed that he was confident she’d run extremely well this afternoon.
“It was her first preparation and she had three seconds,” Ryan said after the race.
“Probably that last run when we popped the blinkers on her, she looked like she was at the end of her preparation, so I said why don’t we turn her out and get her ready for this race first-up?
“We couldn’t give her a race anywhere else before this because I reckon she would have won. She had a nice spell and improved heaps strength-wise and maturity-wise.”
Ryan believes that the track is playing fairly on Magic Millions Day and believes that every horse will get their chance, with the appropriate luck in running.
“I think the track will play fairly. I’ve been here all week at the track and at the sales and the track looks excellent,” he said.
“Talking to a few of the local trainers, they reckon they’ve never seen the track any better.”
Race favourite Dinnigan was the first horse beaten when the field straightened, while market mover Epic Rant spotted his rivals a big start and failed to run on.
Punters who backed one of Problem Solver’s rivals to win the Magic Millions Maiden will have their stake returned, up to $20!