Five-way dispute for favouritism in Saturday’s $3 million 2yo Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast

Saturday’s $3 million 2yo Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast shapes as one of the most open big races in memory, with a five-way split for favouritism in the dash. Gallo Nero, Icarian Dream, La Bella Boom, Invincible Woman and Memo are all tied as $6.50 TABtouch elects and aside from the latter, all bring a last-start win as their form reference. Gallo Nero, who draws gate No. 5 for jockey Tyler Schiller, is a son of all-conquering two-year-old stallion Wootton Bassett whose progeny have been dominating through the early part of this season. Gallo Nero lived up to the lofty expectations his half-siblings are setting by winning at Randwick on December 28 after sitting just off the pace. Icarian Dream’s chances were handed a significant blow when the Blue Point filly drew gate 21, the widest in the field. Though she will move to in five places when the emergencies are withdrawn, overcoming the deepest barrier will be no mean feat. However, she is a two-time winner, scoring on debut at Warwick Farm in October prior to two close-up efforts at Rosehill. At her most recent start, she sprinted brilliantly to zoom past her rivals, scoring the B J McLachlan at Eagle Farm by a length-and-a-half. Jason Collett, who partnered the youngster in her most recent victory, will retain the ride. La Bella Boom looms as Queensland’s best local chance of holding their home-state race after blitzing her Sunshine Coast rivals a week ago. She ripped away from her rivals to win by two-and-a-half lengths for Craig Williams, who will again be in the saddle for trainer Tony Gollan. The daughter of Spirit Of Boom will jump from barrier 10 and has been backed from $8 in, despite having the unenviable task of a two-year-old being on a seven-day back-up. Invincible Woman made a splash for her women’s syndicate owners when bursting clear to score a comprehensive two-and-three-quarter length win on debut at the Caulfield Heath circuit on December 14. She quickened up attractively to settle the race soon after straightening before trialling successfully at the Gold Coast on New Year’s Eve. She was the initial favourite at $5 following the barrier draw where she received gate nine but has since drifted out. Top jockey Damian Lane takes the mount for Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans after riding the daughter of I Am Invincible on debut. Although not victorious at Wyong to start the preparation, Memo was the big eye-catcher in finishing second to O’Ole ($17). She followed that with a length-and-a-half third to Gallo Nero at Randwick after experiencing limited fortune again. Throughout her racing career, she has been handled by Kerrin McEvoy for Peter Snowden and will be one of few runners yet to win a race despite earning more than $70,000. The daughter of Capitalist will jump from gate one and Peter Snowden is no stranger to success in these two-year-old features. Space Rider ($7.50) is the first emergency and the last horse in single-digit odds from gate four. With just one career start for a victory at Eagle Farm, he could hardly have been more impressive when romping away for a three-and-a-quarter length win for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr. If he gains a start, he will begin from gate four for hoop Chad Schofield. + The $125,000 Miss Andretti Stakes (1100m) heads Ascot’s nine-event programme comprising the main meeting of the week in WA, with last week’s decisive winner Premium Choice looming as the one to beat. This week’s $3.20 favourite parked outside Final Siren before putting the acid test to that runner rounding the turn and surging on for a length-and-a-half success. It will mean another public hit-out in quick succession, with the seven-year-old trialling on the Monday leading into that performance also. Rockin’ Rupert ($4.60) missed away on Boxing Day at Pinjarra and never recovered, failing to beat a runner home. His previous second when beaten just a half-neck by The Boss Lady was a tremendous effort, so a return to that form would put him bang into contention. Man Crush ($5) resumes for his first racetrack outing since the Winterbottom Stakes when four lengths behind Overpass. This is decidedly easier and he has run some good races off freshen-ups in the past. Twain’s Angel ($5) hasn’t quite reached the lofty heights that many had hoped when stringing together six successive wins from as many starts early in her career but her form has still been satisfactory. Just a neck behind Keep Attacking at her last run, the gear change removing synthetic hoof filler suggests her feet are in better condition and she will be prominent from the outset after receiving gate one. Oxbridge ($7.50) has been a superb find for Stephen Sheehy down in Albany, winning many Great Southern contests. However, he has shocked nearly everyone at his last two starts by winning a race at Albany easily then elevating again to take the Listed Summer Scorcher last start. In his current vein of form, nothing is impossible. 46-start veteran Hot Zed ($16) rewound time with a gallant third in the Winterbottom before being soundly held in the Gold Rush. Ghost Who Walks ($16) is a 54-start old-stager who was less than two lengths from Oxbridge last outing, with Gemma’s Son ($21) two lengths further afield.