Gai Waterhouse will map out a Sydney Autumn Carnival program for last Saturday’s Magic Millions 3yo Guineas winner Sweet Idea.
James McDonald and Sweet Idea returning to scale after winning the Magic Millions 3yo Guineas. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Winning rider James McDonlad crossed the field from an outside barrier to take Sweet Idea straight of the lead and the Snitzel filly was able to hold off the fast finishing Estonian Princess to take out the Gold Coast $1m Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast.
The Guineas win was sweet success for Sweet Idea and McDonald who were narrowly beaten in last year’s $2m Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) by the Kelso Wood trained Real Surreal.
Waterhouse had another great day at the Gold Coast and as well as winning the $1m feature for the three year olds, also won the $164,000 R.M. Williams Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Handicap (1300m) with Driefontein and the $176,000 Myer Magic Millions Open Sprint (1100m) with Whittington.
The Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 22 is likely to be on Sweet Idea’s agenda, but Waterhouse is yet to finalise her Autumn Carnival program.
“I’ll let the dust settle and give her 10 days in the paddock then reprogram her for the autumn,” Waterhouse said.
Sweet Idea went to the Gold Coast with only one lead up run under her belt, a win in the $100,000 Wyong Magic Millions 3yo Stakes (1200m) at Wyong on December 19, but the leading Randwick trainer was confidence the filly would be fit enough to run out a strong 1400m.
“She deserved to win because her lead-up form had been outstanding winning first-up at Wyong and repeating that performance here today,” Waterhouse said on after the Magic Millions 3yo Guineas win.
“This is a very, very good filly and she will keep improving.
“She has got amazing speed and she can sustain it; we saw it at Wyong, we saw it in the Golden Slipper and now we have seen it again.
“Not only was she a brilliant two-year-old, but she has come back a brilliant three-year-old. “She is just a class act.”
Waterhouse also praised the ride of McDonald who has really made a name for himself since making the move from New Zealand to be based in Sydney twelve months ago.
“James has made the quantum leap as a rider since he arrived from New Zealand and he’s only going to achieve more success in racing,” Waterhouse said.
