A brave second placing at big odds at Caulfield over the weekend has seen the Matt Cumani-trained filly Anthemoessa book her shot at the Restricted Listed $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast next month.
After an eye-catching second to Ollivander (pictured) Anthemoessa is 2018 Magic Millions Classic bound in January. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The well-bred daughter of Smart Missile has had two career runs for two second placings earning $54,000 in prize money.
That looks enough for her to sneak into the Magic Millions Classic field in Queensland on January 13 according to her Ballarat-based trainer Cumani.
Anthemoessa debuted in the $200,000 Magic Millions 2YO Clockwise Classic (1000m) at her home track on November 25 when a distant second behind the runaway winner La Pomme de Pin.
She backed-up last Saturday at Caulfield Racecourse as a $21 outsider in betting, finishing a brave second a length off the Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra-trained winner Ollivander in the $100,000 Evergreen Turf Plate (1100m) after sitting up on the pace throughout.
“She’s only small that filly but god she’s really tough, she finished off strongly when she had every right to fade out,” Cumani told Racing Victoria.
“It’s great now she’s done enough to get into the Magic Millions 2YO race on the Gold Coast and we’ll certainly be aiming for that.
“I think you either go [up to the Gold Coast] well in advance and get acclimatised or you go as close as you can to the race and that’s probably what we’ll be doing.
“We can go up there without having to have another race, keep her really nice and fresh, she doesn’t need much work and go into it hopefully confident
“Looking at the other results of the weekend and last weekend there are some seriously good two-year-old colts and fillies out there who are going to be tough to beat
“But if she can be consistent and tough like she has been so far then she certainly has every chance, we’ll just hope she gets a good barrier.”
Anthemoessa is currently listed as a $34 outsider in pre-field Magic Millions Classic odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The futures Magic Millions Classic betting markets are now firmly led by the Tony Gollan-trained Ef Troop ($4.80) after the Spirit Of Boom gelding retained his undefeated record in Brisbane over the weekend.
After a successful debut at Doomben in early November, Ef Troop made a mess of his four rivals back at the track with a blistering five and a half-length victory in the Listed $100,000 Phelan Ready Stakes (1100m).
“Yes, he is by far the best. He is a very good colt,” winning trainer Gollan told AAP post-win on Saturday.
“He had an easy trial but I was really happy with the way he worked on the course proper here on Wednesday.
“He will not have another race start leading into the Millions but we have the option of a trial before the race.”
A $70,000 buy as a yearling, Ef Troop has now amassed $128,700 in prize money heading into the Magic Millions Race Day and has long held the respect of in-form Queensland hoop Matthew McGillivray who has been aboard for both victories.
“I have always had great faith in this horse and he is very smart,” McGillivray said.
The official Magic Millions Classic final acceptances close on Monday January 8, 2018.