2016 Magic Millions Classic Tips: Slumber Party The Value

Queensland Racing expert Steve Hewlett has Capitalist on top of his 2016 Magic Millions Classic tips, but he believes that Gai Waterhouse-trained Slumber Party is the main danger to the star colt in the feature race at the Gold Coast tomorrow.

Co-trainer Peter Snowden is confident that Capitalist has improved ahead of the 2016 Magic Millions Classic. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Co-trainer Peter Snowden is confident that Capitalist has improved ahead of the 2016 Magic Millions Classic. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Slumber Party made her racing debut with a fast-finishing third behind Calliope and Jeanneau in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) at Royal Randwick on October 3 and she impressed with a dominant barrier trial victory over 900 metres at Rosehill Gardens on December 8.

The Snitzel filly was denied a maiden race by Zelady’s Night Out in the BJ McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Boxing Day, but Hewlett said that there was plenty of merit in the performance and he feels Slumber Party could be the horse to beat if something goes amiss with Capitalist in the Magic Millions Classic.

“Slumber Party has drawn out in the car park, but I think that he has any amount of toe,” Hewlett said.

“I thought Slumber Party was excellent the other day given that it had to hold the inside and was pressured in the race.

“If they took the sit the other day it would have finished a lot closer and given the pressure it stuck on really well.

“It will fire out of the gates and be in the firing line around the Gold Coast.”

While Hewlett has a high opinion of Slumber Party, he admits that Capitalist is clearly the horse to beat in the Magic Millions Classic and co-trainer Peter Snowden revealed this morning that he believes the star juvenile has improved since he cantered home to take out the Wyong Magic Millions Classic at the end of last year.

“I was more than happy with what I saw (during his exhibition gallop) and he had another solid gallop on Tuesday morning,” Snowden told Radio TAB.

“He missed the trial, but the two gallops more than made up for that.

“I think that he has definitely improved and the run at Wyong really bought him on.

“He is a really laidback horse and the trip hasn’t worried him.

“He looks great, he was good this morning and he was relaxed.”

Capitalist is currently available at 2016 Magic Millions Classic odds of $1.70 with Ladbrokes and he is a clear favourite from Nikitas ($11), Niccolance ($11), Zelady’s Night Out ($13), Slumber Party ($17) and Candika ($19).

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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.