Victorian stayer Payroll will get her chance to chase a hat trick of wins in the $1m Magic Millions Trophy (2200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Payroll, above in white colours, is chasing a hat trick of wins in the Magic Millions Trophy at the Gold Coast. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Richard Laming trained Payroll will jump from barrier nine in the in the sixteen horse field, giving Damien Oliver plenty of options to settle in behind the pace.
Payroll is racing in the peak of her form with wins from her last two starts in the Group 3 $150,000 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) on the Ladbrokes Park Hillside track at Sandown on November 18 and in the Listed $120,000 Lord Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield on December 26.
“She’s in great form,” Oliver told the Herald Sun.
“Full credit to Richard and the team, they’ve got her going in career-best form and it’s all systems go to the Gold Coast.”
Early betting for the Magic Millions Trophy at Ladbrokes.com.au has Payroll on the second line at $3.40 just behind the $3.30 favourite Sedanzer.
Sedanzer is also racing in top form with three wins and second from her last four starts and will get every chance from barrier three with Tim Clark in the saddle.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained stayer made it a hat trick of wins with her victory in a 1600m BenchMark 84 Handicap at Randwick on December 16 before running second to Pecans in the Group 3 $150,000 Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Gosford on December 28.
Waterhouse and Bott will saddle up three runners in the Magic Millions Trophy and as well as Sedanzer, Dark Eyes and Multitude will represent Tulloch Lodge.
Multitude with Stephen Baster booked to ride has drawn the rails while stablemate Dark Eyes with Blake Shinn aboard will be at the other end of the starting stalls after drawing barrier seventeen in the original draw but could move in two spots if all three emergencies fail to gain a start.
Closest to the top two in the betting at $10 is the Chris Waller trained Black On Gold who is coming off a last start eighth to Montauk in the Group 3 $150,000 Summer Cup (2000m) at Randwick on December 26.