The history books state no horse has won the A$2-million Magic Millions 2YO Classic from the outside barrier, nor has any horse officially won the race at only their second start–but records are there for breaking.
Both favoured runners have 'hoodoos' they need to break, but the unbeaten pair have shown enough to date, signifying they have the class to create their own piece of history come Saturday in the prestigious 1200-metre event at the Gold Coast Turf Club.
Outstanding in her two victories to date by a combined 9 1/2-length margin, the Toby Edmonds-trained Houtzen (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) will need to overcome the outside barrier if she is to take the $1.2-million first prize cheque. With Edmonds having trained her sire for the early portion of his career, the Gold Coast-based conditioner is a fan of the breed, having trained two of the 17 stakes winner produced by the sire.
The filly has shown great tactical gate speed to lead at her two starts and while she has jumped from inside barriers in the past, leading jockey Jeff Lloyd will need to work his magic to take the win. If she can overcome the obstacles, however, her large group of owners are sure to be celebrating long into the night.
The Chris Waller-trained 'TDN Rising Star' From Within (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}), who looks the main danger to Houzten, is heading to the race after only one start, having recorded an impressive victory at Canterbury on Dec. 31.
No Looking Back (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) was officially first past the post at her second start before losing the race to stablemate Driefontein (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) on protest in 2012, and From Within's second race day outing could prove her undoing from an experience perspective. While Waller is confident in his filly, he's realistic that Saturday's race is a completely different proposition to her first outing.
“The Magic Millions is going to be completely different race to her race debut,” he said. “They will run and charge for the first 800 metres and that will call on her reserves a lot earlier than that we would have seen in her trials and her race debut.”
Not having raced since make a winning debut in the G3 Ottawa S. at Flemington on Nov. 1, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Invincible Star (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) is in a similar position to From Within, tackling the $2-million contest at only her second start.
Readied with two recent barrier trials, the Tim Clark-ridden filly left Madeenaty (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) floundering almost three lengths into third at Flemington when they raced, with the Shadwell-raced filly since taking out the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO race, a lead up won 12 months prior by Capitalist (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) enroute to his Magic Millions success.
While there are many differing form lines heading into Saturday's race and it is hard to predict exactly the right one, another facet that is also certain is that the race allows yearlings purchased at all price points to make their way into the field.
The cheapest in the final field is Chris Munce's unbeaten stakes-winning colt Ours To Keep (Aus) (Seidnazar {Aus}) who was secured for A$28,000 while Gerald Ryan will saddle up Chauffeur (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), last year's A$1.6-million sale topper and three-quarter brother to No Looking Back–with both colts having shown enough to be considered chances in an open race.
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