Bold Circle In Peak Condition Ahead Of Magic Millions Guineas

Trainer David Payne believes that Bold Circle is in the best condition of his racing career to date and could not be happier with the promising colt ahead of the 2015 Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Trainer David Payne is optimistic about the chances of Bold Circle in the 2015 Magic Millions Guineas. Photo by: Steve Hart

Trainer David Payne is optimistic about the chances of Bold Circle in the 2015 Magic Millions Guineas. Photo by: Steve Hart

Bold Circle returned to racing with a disappointing performance in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m) at Royal Randwick on December 13, but he returned to a semblance of his best form with a fast-finishing win in the Rewards Handicap (1200m) at the same venue on New Year’s Day.

The Bernardini colt has been plagued by injury issues since he made his racing debut with a third place finish behind Law and Mohave in the Listed New South Wales Thoroughbred Breeders Plate (1000m) at Royal Randwick on October 5, but Payne believes that the three-year-old is the soundest he has been during his racing career to date and is capable of recording his biggest race win to date in the 2015 Magic Millions Guineas.

“He has never been better,” Payne told Racing Ahead this morning.

“At weight-for-age it was a very good effort and that gives us a bit of confidence.

“If he stays sound he will definitely get to stakes level, but he has got a problem with soundness, so that is going to be the biggest problem going forward with him.

“From a two-year-old he has been giving us problem and that is why he has been so sparingly race.

“He is sound now and at least he is going in good.”

While Payne is happy with the physical condition of Bold Circle, he admits that he was slightly disappointed at the 2015 Magic Millions Guineas barrier draw yesterday when the colt was allocated barrier 17 for the $1 million event.

Payne said that he expects jockey Hugh Bowman to push forward on Bold Circle from the wide gate in the early stages of the Magic Millions Guineas and hopes that the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase will be able to find some cover.

“It was a bit disappointing the draw, but maybe it will work out in our favour but he is going in the best he has been,” Payne said.

“If he can sit at least third or fourth with cover, it doesn’t matter if he is a bit deep, I would be happy with that.”

Bold Circle is currently available at 2015 Magic Millions Guineas odds of $13, while Hijack Hussy ($3.50) is a clear favourite from Testashadow ($7) and Aerobar ($8).

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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.