2015 Magic Millions Classic: Quick Tempo To Suit Racy

Trainer Gary Portelli believes that the quick tempo expected in the early stages of the 2015 Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast on Saturday will suit his talented filly Racy.

Josh Parr has been booked to ride Racy in the 2015 Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Josh Parr has been booked to ride Racy in the 2015 Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Racy was ridden on the speed when she took out the Pro-Ride Plate (1000m) at Warwick Farm on December 10 and finished third in the TAB Rewards Plate (1200m), but Portelli believes that the Exceed And Excel filly is an even better horse when given the opportunity to settle with cover.

Portelli told Racing Ahead that Racy has a turn-of-foot that she is yet to exhibit in her two race starts and he hopes that she will be able to produce this if she is ridden quietly in the early stages of the 2015 Magic Millions Classic.

“I still don’t think that we have seen the best of her,” Portelli said.

“What we have done with this filly is that we have taught her to chase horses and she is a fantastic chaser.

“It has just been that the opposition hasn’t had enough pace to lead her at this stage, so she has been racing a little bit keen without cover.

“She has probably just not been hitting the line as good as we would like her to do, even though she has won and run third.

“I think that this sort of race where they will go quick, she will be back just off the speed and she will be able to travel off a fast pace.

“We have taught her to chase horses and I can’t wait to see what happens if things go to plan because I think she could go up to another level.”

Racy needed to win the TAB Rewards Plate to be assured of a place in the 2015 Magic Millions Classic field, but she was able to hang on to a place in the race after Gai Waterhouse elected not to accept with debut winner Giulietta.

Portelli said that he did not want to rush Racy up to Queensland and he revealed that the plan was to stay in Sydney until Thursday night before making the trip North for the Magic Millions Classic, despite the two-year-old completing her final serious piece of work this morning.

“She had her final gallop on the course proper at Warwick Farm this morning and she came through it really well, so she is spot on,” Portelli said.

“The plan is for Thursday night.

“I heard that the weather was going to get quiet hot here late in the week, so I thought we would stay at home as long as we could, get her there on Friday and race Saturday.”

Racy is currently available at 2015 Magic Millions Classic odds of $21, while Wicked Intent ($6) and Claudia Jean ($6) remain locked in a battle for favouritism with Ladbrokes.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.