One of the leading chances for this year’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic is in danger of missing a run after being left as an emergency for the $3 million event.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Space Rider was drawn as first emergency for the 1200-metre event when final acceptances were taken on Monday.
The son of Zoustar charged up betting charts to a single-figure quote after a brilliant win at Eagle Farm on December 28 at his only racetrack appearance.
He was in the field of 16 prior to Saturday but was leap-frogged first by Quietly Arrogant and Forgotten Spirit after their performances at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Space Rider will be ridden by Chad Schofield if he sneaks a place in the field.
Fillies dominate this year’s field with 11 of the 16 guaranteed starters of that gender, including leading fancies La Bella Boom, Icarian Dream, O’ Ole, Memo, Vein Girl, Invincible Woman and Hi Barbie.
Last-start Sydney winner Gallo Nero is the most highly-rated of the five colts in the field of 16, second favourite in the market headed by Icarian Dream.
Barriers for the 2YO Classic will be drawn on Tuesday morning at the traditional event on the Surfers Paradise foreshore with starting positions for the $3m Magic Millions 3YO Guineas to also be decided.
That 1400m event has brought together a field of 18, plus five emergencies, headlined by the Sandown Guineas quinella of Snitzanova and Bittercreek, Magic Millions Wyong winner Bauhinia, last-start Group 3 winner Give Me Space, the in-form Tuileries and Sunlight’s son Dawn Service.
Craig Williams has declared he will be fit to take his rides aboard La Bella Boom and Street Chase in the two $3m events after being cleared of serious injury to his ankle after being stood down midway through Saturday’s Sunshine Coast meeting.
It is expected to be known by Thursday night whether the Gold Coast track will be suitable to host the meeting with remedial work being carried out on the damaged patch of turf that caused last weekend’s fixture to be transferred to the Sunshine Coast.
