Wyong Magic Millions Stakes: Egyptian Symbol To Defend Unbeaten Record

Trainer Bjorn Baker is hopeful that Egyptian Symbol can defend her unbeaten record and earn a place in the 2016 Magic Millions Guineas when she contests the Wyong Magic Millions Stakes tomorrow afternoon.

Brenton Avdulla will ride Egyptian Symbol in the 2015 Wyong Magic Millions Stakes tomorrow. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Brenton Avdulla will ride Egyptian Symbol in the 2015 Wyong Magic Millions Stakes tomorrow. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Egyptian Symbol was included in the acceptances for the Café Culture Institute Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury this afternoon, but Baker elected to scratch the daughter of Stratum and save her for the Wyong Magic Millions Stakes.

Baker told Sky Racing Radio that he is confident that Egyptian Symbol will be competitive wherever she runs and he is keen to earn her an automatic start in the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas that will be held at the Gold Coast on January 9.

“She is in good order,” Baker said.

“She is a Magic Millions horse and she is still eligible for the Magic Millions three-year-old race.

“If she runs tomorrow she is a ticket in and that is the main reason we have gone with Wyong over Canterbury.”

Egyptian Symbol made her first public appearance in a barrier trial over 796 metres at Warwick Farm on June 12 and she did plenty wrong, but was still able to win the trial and she produced similar efforts at Rosehill Gardens on June 26 and on July 27.

She made her racing debut in the Peroni Nastro Azzurro Maiden (1000m) at Kembla Grange on July 14 and after a stint in the spelling paddock she flew home from the tail of the field to make it two wins from as many starts in the XXXX Gold Handicap (1100m) at Gosford on November 12.

Egyptian Symbol had a temporary setback when she was found with an elevated temperature and a cough in the lead-up to her next race start, but it did not prove to be a problem of race day when she justified her short price to record a third straight victory in the Black Diamond Cup (1200m) at Kembla Grange on December 6.

Egyptian Symbol is currently available at 2015 Wyong Magic Millions Stakes odds of $6.50 with Ladbrokes and she is on the third line of betting behind Flamboyant Lass ($3.20 into $2.70) and Flippant ($3 out to $3.20).

Baker is chasing his first win at the Wyong Magic Millions meeting since Unencumbered took out the 2013 edition of the Wyong Magic Millions Classic in the lead-up to his victory in the $2 Magic Millions Classic on the Gold Coast.

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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.