The undefeated Ef Troop and the brilliant filly Sunlight have been posted as equal favourites following the release of the final field on the 2018 $2m Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Nomothaj, above, is among the final field for the 2018 Magic Millions 2yo Classic at the Gold Coast. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
A full field of sixteen will line up in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic with five emergencies also added to the list while the all-important barrier draw will be conducted on the Surfers Paradise beach front on Tuesday morning.
The Tony Gollan trained Ef Troop will fly the flag for Queensland while Sunlight, from the South Australian stables of trainer Tony McEvoy, will be trying to take the winning trophy down south across the border.
Ef Troop and Sunlight share the top spot in the market order at $4 for the Magic Millions 2yo Classic at Ladbrokes.com.au while the number one saddlecloth holder Jonker is on the third line of betting at $5.
The Eagle Farm trained Ef Troop is the winner of his only two race starts, a 1050m two year old Handicap at Doomben on November 4 followed by a win in the Listed $100,000 Phelan Ready Stakes (1110m) at Doomben on December 16.
McEvoy has brought Sunlight to the Queensland early and the Zoustar filly is undefeated from two starts at the Gold Coast on December 23 and last Saturday in an 1100m two year old Handicap.
The Lindsay Park trained Nomothaj is also another interstate raider and the winner of her only start in the Listed $120,000 Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on October 7 will wear the blinkers for the first time in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic.
The Snowden Racing Team will saddle up two runners, Legislation with Damian Browne to ride and Bondi for Blake Shinn.
Whiskey Shooter was the last filly to sneak into the final field of sixteen and will represent the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott team who could have two runners if second emergency Terminology was lucky enough to gain a late call up.
Betting for the 2018 Magic Millions 2yo Classic at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4 Ef Troop, Sunlight, $5 Jonker, $13 Bondi, $15 Nomothaj, $17 Meryl, Secret Lady, $26 Quackerjack, Legislation, Outback Barbie, Witherspoon, $34 Fullazaboot, Anthemoessa, $41 Paquirri, $51 Crockett, Skyray, Terminology, $67 Whiskey Shooter. $81 Catastrophic, $201 Spirit’s Pride, Sugar Sizzle.
Final field for 2018 Magic Millions 2yo Classic
| # | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Weight |
| 1 | 11 | JONKER | David Atkins | – | 57kg |
| 2 | 11 | EF TROOP | Tony Gollan | Matthew McGillivray | 57kg |
| 3 | 0x11 | QUACKERJACK | Mark Newnham | Koby Jennings | 57kg |
| 4 | 1×4 | LEGISLATION | Peter & Paul Snowden | Damian Browne | 57kg |
| 5 | 12 | FULLAZABOOT | Stuart Kendrick | Tye Angland | 57kg |
| 6 | 1×27 | CROCKETT | Tony McEvoy | Jamie Kah | 57kg |
| 7 | 2×3 | BONDI | Peter & Paul Snowden | Blake Shinn | 57kg |
| 8 | 26 | SKYRAY | Clarry Conners | Jason Collett | 57kg |
| 9 | 6×1 | MERYL | Lee Curtis | Christian Reith | 55kg |
| 10 | 212 | SECRET LADY | Gary Portelli | Ben Melham | 55kg |
| 11 | 3×11 | SUNLIGHT | Tony McEvoy | Luke Currie | 55kg |
| 12 | 1x | NOMOTHAJ | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Stephen Baster | 55kg |
| 13 | 1 | OUTBACK BARBIE | Tony Gollan | Jim Byrne | 55kg |
| 14 | 22 | ANTHEMOESSA | Matt Cumani | Jordan Childs | 55kg |
| 15 | 8×33 | WITHERSPOON | Brad Widdup | Corey Brown | 55kg |
| 16 | 1 | WHISKEY SHOOTER | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 55kg |
| 17e | 323 | PAQUIRRI | Gary Moore | – | 57kg |
| 18e | 42 | TERMINOLOGY | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | – | 55kg |
| 19e | 91 | SPIRIT’S PRIDE | Michael Nolan | – | 57kg |
| 20e | 0154 | SUGAR SIZZLE | Angela Plumb | Ryan Plumb | 55kg |
| 21e | 3x | CATASTROPHIC | Chris Munce | – | 57kg |