Flying Jess upstaged Global Glamour and a disappointing Winning Rupert to record an upset win at huge odds in the 2017 Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast this afternoon.
Flying Jess recorded a boilover win in the 2017 Magic Millions Guineas. Photo by: Steve Hart
Tim Clark rode Global Glamour aggressively in the early stages of the race to take up the running, while Jeff Lloyd elected to take a sit behind Winning Rupert just behind the leaders.
Winning Rupert took up the challenge to Global Glamour at the top of the straight and she kicked away from the unbeaten sprinter, but she was unable to hold-off Flying Jess who exploded from the pack with 150 metres left to run.
Tye Angland timed his run on Flying Jess to perfection in the Magic Millions Guineas and he was full of praise for the turn-of-foot that the daughter of Hinchinbrook showed in the final stages of the $2 million race.
“I was lucky enough to get the call-up from Prime Thoroughbreds because I had a bit of success for them, but this definitely takes the cake today,” Angland said.
“In that sort of circumstance you want to be able to ride your horse to make sure it suits the race and I drew next to Winning Rupert and he ended up being two pairs in front of me.
“I always travelled strong through the race and I was able to peel off his back in the straight.
“The turn-of-foot that she showed was dynamite.”
Flying Jess was available at Magic Millions Guineas odds of more than $100 with Ladbrokes and went into the race off a seventh place finish in the New Year’s Eve Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury on December 31, but trainer John Moloney was always confident that she would run a big race.
“You’ve just got to be in it to win it,” Moloney said.
“We just thought we’d take our place, give her a chance and you never know what will happen on the day.
“Her run in Sydney was OK, there was nothing wrong with it.
“Back to the 1400m, nice gate, nice ride and we were in the finish.
“I don’t even know what she was (in terms of odds) but there was never any hope for her.
“This horse has not turned a hair.
“She went to Sydney, didn’t miss a beat and has turned up here and she was as cool as a cucumber.”
Winning Rupert started the race as an odds-on favourite, but he was unable to go with Global Glamour at the top of the straight and faded late to finish fourth.
Global Glamour toughed it out bravely after setting a very quick early tempo and was almost able to add another feature race win to her racing resume.
