Trainers Steve O’Dea, Matt Hoysted to quickly erase Magic Millions spoils with unbeaten filly

Leading Queensland trainers Matt Hoysted and Steve O’Dea are quickly trying to forget their two narrow Magic Millions seconds in the hope of unbeaten filly Fortuneer at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Trainer Matt Hoysted with local hope Scallopini, Ascot. Picture: Liam Kidston

Leading Queensland trainers Matt Hoysted and Steven O’Dea are quickly trying to forget their two narrow Magic Millions seconds as they turn their attention to their unbeaten filly Fortuneer at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Better Get Set went down by a head in the $1m Magic Millions Open while Helluva Barty finished a nose from Derry Grove in the $1m Magic Millions Syndicate.

Co-trainer Matt Hoysted said it was a bittersweet pill to swallow.

“To go down a narrow margin in both races was pretty gut wrenching but we were also really proud of both of their efforts,” he said.

“Both horses ran out of their skin and gave an enormous effort, it was just unfortunate that we didn’t get the bob on them.”

BOOM TORQUE comes with a big, long, wide run to take out the QTIS Open for trainer @mattydunnracing and interstate hoop Micky Dee!#QLDisRacing🐎 pic.twitter.com/hshyyOJuAO

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) January 13, 2024

It's a @mattydunnracing double!

DERRY GROVE under the urges of @nashhot takes the @mmsnippets The Syndicate in a close finish from HELLUVA BARTY making a wide run and saluting for his big group of owners 🏆#QLDisRacing🐎 pic.twitter.com/wqNng1mxLh

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) January 13, 2024

He said both runners had since been sent to the paddock as they aim now towards the winter carnival.

“They each had a few runs this preparation that we’re always culminating into Magic Millions so they’ve run there grand finals now and get a well deserved break,” he said.

The pair, who have recorded 14 wins and 31.5 placings in Queensland metropolitan grade this season, will saddle up just one runner at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

“Just the one in Fortuneer who is a really progressive filly and one of those horses that keeps ticking off the boxes each time we raise the bar,” he said.

Matt Hoysted and Steve O'Dea trained runner Fortuneer. Picture: Facebook.

Their three-year-old filly has had two starts to date with wins at Doomben on debut and then at Ipswich earlier this month.

“It wasn’t the ideal preparation going into her last start, she was down to run at Murwillumbah the day after boxing day but that’s when traffic was horrendous getting down,” he said.

“It took us over two hours just to get to Dreamworld on the Gold Coast so we ended up having to scratch her which ended up being a month between runs when she got her next start.

“It was an unplanned lead in for her but she was still able to show her class and take on some older horses.”

Fortuneer will run in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1300m) and Hoysted said he was eager to see her perform.

“She’s drawn a bit sticky on Saturday but she has nice speed so we’ll probably have to use her from out wide to come across,” he said.

“She’s one that’s going in the right direction and it’s a race she can be quite competitive in.”

Originally published as Trainers Steve O’Dea, Matt Hoysted to quickly erase Magic Millions spoils with unbeaten filly