Trainer Ciaron Maher has no doubt that his unbeaten colt Dubious can continue on his winning way when he steps up 1200m in the $2m The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2yo Classic at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Dubious, above in the aqua and black colours, is one of the main chances in the 2019 Magic Millions 2yo Classic at the Gold Coast. Photo by Steve Hart.
Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace out of their Caulfield stables and nearly established Warwick Farm operation, had no hesitation is letting his mother, Eileen Maher, select the barrier at the barrier draw for the Magic Millions 2yo Classic on the Surfers Paradise Beachfront.
Eileen Maher was lucky enough to select barrier seven in the sixteen horse field plus five emergencies and the Not A Single Doubt colt could jump from gate six if all the reserves fail to gain a start.
Maher was happy with that result and said that Dubious was ready to step up to 1200m after winning both his races to date over 1000m after victories in the Group 3 $160,000 Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate at Randwick during the 2018 Sydney Spring Carnival and in the QTIS 2yo Handicap at Eagle Farm on December 22.
“That (Eagle Farm) run really brought him on, I really wanted to go from the 1000m to progress to the 1200m and I thought three weeks into the Magic Millions was perfect timing,” Maher said.
“He is very clean-winded, he would hardly blow a candle out after a gallop this morning.
“I’m wrapped (with the barrier draw), Mum Eileen did a super job, she certainly took her time but she got the job done.”
Maher said that Dubious has progressed nicely since his Eagle Farm win and has come through a couple of hit-outs on the Gold Coast track in great order.
“He is a good doer – that run certainly brought him on and he has had a couple of nice gallops around the Gold Coast to familiarise himself so he should be right to go,” Maher said.
“The best attribute of the colt is his temperament.”
“He is very chilled and then when the gates open he is very switched on. He is everything you want in a colt.”
Michael Walker has been aboard Dubious for both his wins and will stick with the colt in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic.
Walker should be able to give Dubious a nice run just behind the speed from the handy barrier and the colt is well fancied in the market order at Ladbrokes.com.au, sharing the second line of betting at $6 with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Unite And Conquer who was out of luck at the barrier draw, coming up with gate eighteen in the original draw.
The James Cummings trained Exhilarates heads the market order at $5 for the in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic after drawing barrier nine with Kerrin McEvoy to ride.
Betting for the 2019 Magic Millions 2yo Classic at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5 Exhilarates, $6 Unite And Conquer, Dubious, $7 Czarson, $7.50 Yes Yes Yes, $13 Movie Role, Rome, $15 Better Reflection, $17 Hightail, $18 Champagne Boom, $21 Girls Are Ready, The Odyssey, $26 Lubuk, $41 Krameric, $61 Champagne Jet, Sebrakate, $67 Betaima, $81 Oh Five Glory, $101 Alburq, Coursehewill, Gala Miss.
