River Racer A Live Chance in Magic Millions 3YO Guineas

Trainer Les Ross is hopeful that classy filly River Racer has found the extra lengths required to topple race favourite Winning Rupert in Saturday’s Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) on the Gold Coast.

River Racer (inside, white silks) will line up for the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas on Saturday. Photo: Daniel Costello

River Racer (inside, white silks) will line up for the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas on Saturday. Photo: Daniel Costello

River Racer was rated an outsider in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) field a fortnight ago, but jockey Robbie Fradd led the filly to a positive position on pace early; beating all nine horses to the line other than a runaway Winning Rupert, who recorded a comfortable three length triumph.

Ross told Racing Ahead that he is thrilled to have a runner in one of the state’s most lucrative races and he believes that River Race is a live chance of a boil over in the 2017 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

“It’s more money than we race for all year. If I was lucky enough to win this on Saturday, it would be well over what I earn for the year in one day, so it would be nice to snag,” Ross said.

“We’re in with a real chance. It’s a really good horse Winning Rupert, but we meet it a couple of kilos better.

“We’re going up 100m and every time this filly has started in the last three or few, she’s drawn outside 10 or worse, so it was nice we drew a marble yesterday and hopefully she can be there right on the bunny on Saturday.

“This prep when he brought her back we were interested in one thing – getting her to that three-year-old race and having her right on the day.

“We brought her back and had her a little bit big going into the first one, then 80% going into the second and then wasn’t 100% the other day, but wasn’t far off it.

“We’ll probably find a length but whether we can find two or three – you have to find three to get around that horse, but hopefully he’s lost a couple!”

River Racer was purchased for only $12,000 in early 2015, but has already secured $150,000 in prize money through ten career starts.

Returned to the paddock after posting a maiden race win in the Hamilton Hotel Plate (1200m) on July 30th, the Hidden Dragon filly resumed this time for second in the Epoca Constructions Handicap (1000m) on November 19th; running on well for fifth in the Listed Mode Plate (1200m) second-up, in what was her only other start prior to the Vo Rogue Plate.

River Racer is currently available at 2017 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas odds of $21 with online bookie Ladbrokes Australia.

About The Author

Jared Timms

Jared graduated with a journalism degree in 2011. He is a keen sports fan and has enjoyed many accolades for his lively writing style and comprehensive coverage of major sporting events and horse racing. Today, you can find Jared cheering on his beloved Manchester City with a beer in hand.