Formlines put Gai Waterhouse pair in good spot for Magic Millions

Exhilarates dominance at the Gold Coast led to the conclusion that Gai Waterhouse is well placed to add another Magic Millions trophy to her trophy cabinet.

A FEW form lines collided in the 2YO feature at the Gold Coast yesterday and while Exhilarates goes into next Saturday’s Magic Millions Classic as a genuine contender, her dominance led to the conclusion that Gai Waterhouse is well placed to add another Magic Millions trophy to her trophy cabinet.

Waterhouse and training partner Adrian Bott have Unite And Conquer and Czarson in the Millions, both of whom boast wins over Exhilarates.

There’s no doubt Exhilarates has improved with each start, but there’s no reason to think the Waterhouse-Bott pair don’t have more in the locker either. Czarson had the bigger margin to spare over Exhilarates and did look sharp in a recent trial against Unite And Conquer.

The most recent of Waterhouse’s Four 2YO Classic winners was Driefontein, who won on protest over stablemate No Looking Back in 2012.

Gai Waterhouse will have a strong hand in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Picture: Getty Images

Boost for locals

THE withdrawal of Native Soldier clears the way for the locals to dominate Saturday’s Magic Millions Guineas, with Boomsara and Outback Barbie trimming up appreciably.

Darren Weir confirmed with QRIC stewards at 2pm that Native Soldier would not be running.

He said the horse had ligament damage in the near fore fetlock and stewards ordered a vet certificate before he starts again.

Outback Barbie firmed to $2.70 off the back of the news, with Boomsara into $3.60.

Weir has said the autumn is out of the question for Native Soldier.

Softer going, please

TOBY Edmonds added his name to the list of trainers wanting racetracks to be prepared with more give after being critical of the Gold Coast surface on Saturday.

Edmonds said track surfaces are an important part of animal welfare and felt Saturday’s surface should have had more give in it. Gold Coast Turf Club chief executive Steve Lines defended the track and said most jockeys had said it had enough cushion.

“There has been very few instances of horses pulling up sore,” he said. “We’re putting 10mm on it every night and we can’t do any more. If we do, then happen to get a dew it races off and we get caned again.”

Trainer Toby Edmonds said Saturday’s Gold Coast track should have had more give in it. Picture: AAP

It continues a debate between trainers, punters and track managers that sparked after comments made by trainer Darren Weir on Boxing Day at Caulfield.

Punters believe too much artificial watering of tracks leads to bias, while Mick Goodie said the situation had become an impossible one for track managers.

Cameron Partington of the Queensland branch of the Australian Trainers Association, said his constituents are keen for tracks to be prepared with more give in them, preferably starting at a Soft (5) at scratching time in summer.

Racing Queensland chief executive Brendan Parnell said the control body was in constant dialogue with the ATA on having a suitable template for all meetings.

RQ recently appointed long serving chief steward Allan Reardon as its official track walker.

Parnell said the move was designed to have more consistency in the rating of tracks of a morning.

Wise words

IT was interesting watching two wily masters go at it in the stewards’ room after the Auerbach protest against Star Reflection.

Jeff Lloyd (Auerbach) said his mount had kept fighting rivals off and “had more to come” when the shift came from Star Reflection.

“Taking into account the nose margin and knowing this horse, he had every right to fight (Star Reflection) off and the margin goes the other way,” Lloyd said. “The other one got a head in front and this horse starts to rally. When he’s coming back, that’s when he gets the bump.”

Browne, who steadied his mount close to the line in a bid to straighten it up, said he came from 3-4 lengths off Lloyd and should have won by further.

Damian Browne on Star Reflection (right) trying to steer his mount away from Auerbach (Jeff Lloyd) at the Gold Coast. Picture: Trackside Photography

“She gets there and goes to roll in. That’s when she loses her momentum. If she goes straight, she wins by a length,” Browne said. “The incident has cost me more than it’s cost him. My mare has nearly thrown the race away.”

Lloyd countered that he agreed Star Reflection would have won more easily if it went straight “but the point is, it didn’t go straight.”

Given the relative prices, punters (including Yours Truly) would have been pleased to see the upheld sign posted, but stewards made the right call in dismissing the objection.

Trick works a treat

JEFF Lloyd was well aware of Evolo’s reputation for wanting to hang in, so had a new trick for the gelding when he found the front and the fence in the straight on Saturday.

“He’s never been hit with the left (hand),” Lloyd said. “When I did, you could tell he half wanted to go through the fence, but when he worked out there was nowhere to go, he went straight after that.”

Lloyd’s midrace move proved crucial as he was able to settle Evolo in the front once he got there and have enough to give a kick in the straight.