Driefontein will have the chance to defend her title in the 2015 Magic Millions Fillies And Mares Handicap at the Gold Coast on January 10 after she finished second in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick this morning.
Driefontein will be returning to the Gold Coast Magic Millions Meeting for the fourth year in a row. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Driefontein contested the third barrier trial of the morning over 1050 metres at Royal Randwick and showed her customary speed to take up the running in the early stages of the trial before her and stablemate Laidback Larry pulled well clear of the rest of the field to quinella the trial; with Laidback Larry winning the trial in a time of 35.76.
The Fastnet Rock mare is confirmed to be a member of what is set to be a strong Gai Waterhouse-trained team heading to the Gold Coast Magic Millions meeting and she will be having her fourth start at the lucrative event.
Driefontein went into the 2012 edition of the Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic as one of the favourites after she recorded impressive wins in the Woods Bagot Handicap (1000m) and Group 3 BJ McLachlan Stakes (1200m), but was beaten across the line by stablemate No Looking Back before she was awarded the race on protest.
The Star Thoroughbreds-owned galloper returned to the Gold Coast for the 2013 edition of the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas and finished a close third behind Saluter and Sizzling before she carried the top weight of 61 kilograms to victory in the Magic Millions Fillies And Mares Handicap earlier this year.
Driefontein took out the Group 3 Irwin Stakes (1100m) and Group 1 Robert Sangster Classic (1200m) during the 2014 Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival, but was unable to record a race win during her 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign.
She returned to racing with a close sixth behind Bel Sprinter and Miracles Of Life in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1100m) at Caulfield on October 18 before she finished only a length behind unbeaten sprinter Deep Field in the Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day.
Driefontein was given another opportunity at the highest level of racing in the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 8 and was settled close to the speed by jockey Vlad Duric in the early stages of the race, but she weakened late to finish tenth.
The five-year-old was purchased for $75,000 at the 2011 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale, but she has now accumulated over $2 million in prizemoney for connections from her 31 race starts.
