2012 Magic Millions A Race In Three

According to punters the 2012 Magic Millions is a race in three and the trainer of one of those chances fully agrees.

Gai Waterhouse has won the two year old Magic Millions race on three occasions and this year she’ll produce another top chance in the form of Driefontein.

She rates her own horse with the likes of Gerald Ryan’s Amorino and Queensland hope Sizzling and believes that’s where the race will be decided.

“They are clearly the stand-out horses going to the Magic Millions and I think one of them will win,” she said.

“Driefontein showed how good she is by winning the race in Brisbane, the horse that ran second, Sizzling, was also impressive and it was a long way to the third horse.

“They really put a big margin on the rest of the horses and I think that proves they are a class above.

“Aside from them I really liked the win of Gerald Ryan’s colt (Amorino).

“Horses that can jump and run like him, have a breather in the middle and then sprint home are always hard to beat in the Magic Millions.”

Driefontein and Sizzling shared favouritism for the Magic Million at $3.80 after their quinella in the Bruce McLachlan Stakes but despite coming off second best Sizzling has since snuck ahead.

It’s something that Tommy Berry can’t understand as he prepares to partner Driefontein at the Gold Coast.

“If Sizzling couldn’t run us down at Doomben then I can’t see him doing it at the Gold Coast,” he said.

“You have to remember that my filly went into that race without a trial, she is going to take a lot of improvement out of the run and from how I see it there is no way Sizzling will be able to give us a start and beat us.”

Berry is in superb touch at the moment having bagged four winners at Doomben on the weekend.

He seems to enjoy this time of year as 12 months ago it was he and Karuta Queen that got the job done in the Magic Millions showpiece event.

In fact he says there’s plenty his 2012 mount has in common with the 2011 champion.

“The way Driefontein travelled reminded me a lot of Karuta Queen, she felt like she was only going half pace in the run but she is able to get the rest of them off the bit and chasing,” he said.

“Once she gets into the straight she opens up and her sprint is devastating. I am starting to get excited about the Gold Coast.”

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