No Magic Millions Classic For Scarlet Rain

Trainer Gai Waterhouse has confirmed that Scarlet Rain will not contest the 2016 Magic Millions Classic and will instead be saved for the major two-year-old races during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

Scarlet Rain led from start to finish in the Hyland Race Colours Plate at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart

Scarlet Rain led from start to finish in the Hyland Race Colours Plate at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart

Scarlet Rain showed that she had plenty of ability when she recorded a comfortable victory in a barrier trial over 740 metres at Royal Randwick on December 15 and she justified strong support in betting to lead from start to finish in the Hyland Race Colours Plate (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on January 2.

Jockey Tommy Berry admitted after the race that he had not made a commitment to ride in the Magic Millions Classic until Scarlet Rain made her debut, but he said that the win had taken plenty out of the two-year-old.

“She is very talented but she did have a good blow after her win so I’m not sure about backing her up next week.

“Obviously, that will be Gai’s decision, but she only had the one trial which is unlike Gai.

“She doesn’t usually give them one trial and she got a bit tired late, but she’s a perfect filly.

“She’s got speed, she relaxes and has a nice turn of foot so the Magic Millions might not be out of her reach.”

Waterhouse is not known for missing a race like the Magic Millions Classic with a talented filly like Scarlet Rain, but she told The Gold Coast Bulletin that the juvenile has been sent for a break and will return to the races in the Listed Lonhro Plate (1100m) at Royal Randwick on February 13 before potentially pressing on to the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m).

“She is a good filly and there are more races than the Magic Millions,” Waterhouse said.

“If she had run earlier we probably would have brought her up to the Gold Coast but she will run again on the 16th.”

Berry wasted no time securing a ride in the Magic Millions Classic following the official withdrawal of Scarlet Rain and he is set to partner Tony Gollan-trained Just Orm, who recorded his maiden race win in the Yalumba Handicap (1000m) at the Sunshine Coast on January 2.

Waterhouse has previously won the Magic Millions Classic with Assertive Lad (2000), Excellerator (2001), Dance Hero (2004) and Driefontein (2012) and she will be represented in this year’s race by Slumber Party.

Slumber Party is currently available at 2016 Magic Millions Classic odds of $10 with Ladbrokes and she is on the fifth line of betting behind Capitalist ($1.80), Zelady’s Night Out ($7), Niccolance ($9) and Nikitas ($9).

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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.