Paul Perry rapt with The Magic Man’s draw as leading contenders draw wide

The barrier draw for Saturday’s $2m Inglis Millennium has delighted Paul Perry but the same can’t be said for some of his rivals.

The Magic Man (yellow) finished runner up to Rivellino. Picture: Bradley Photos

Golden Slipper-winning trainer Paul Perry is hoping the inside draw will be worth its weight in gold after the $2m Inglis Millennium barrier draw saw several top contenders’ chances take a hit on Tuesday.

Pre-final fancies Open Secret, Within The Law and Rivellino were all set tasks with wide gates to contend with as Victorian raider Price Tag assumed outright $4.50 favouritism for the lucrative two-year-old 1100m event at Royal Randwick.

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Perry, who saddles up The Magic Man, has no such issues after his consistent campaigner snared the inside draw in a final field of 16 starters.

While The Magic Man is yet to win in four starts, he has finished runner-up in three of them, including finishing best of the race behind boom colt and current Golden Slipper favourite Wodeton last time.

A favourable racing pattern should have The Magic Man poised to pounce in the Inglis Millennium.

“He has drawn well and it’s always nice to be drawn handy,” Perry said.

“He can put himself there so he might be a chance.

“Up to date he has done well this preparation and has been pleasing.

“I think he is where he is (at this stage of his preparation) and will probably have a break after this anyway I would say.”

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A son of Showtime, The Magic Man was snapped up for just $40,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale with that price tag now seemingly a bargain.

Punters have already nibbled at The Magic Man’s early price of $26 with the colt shortening to $15.

The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Price Tag comes to Sydney following her second placing in the Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) at Caulfield last month and leads a two-pronged attack for the stable with Bubion ($26).

Within The Law is unbeaten heading into the Inglis Millennium. Picture: Michael Klein

Within The Law, Bjorn Baker’s unbeaten winner of her first two starts, and the Kris Lees’ Rivellino share the second line of betting at $6 despite drawing 16 and 18 respectively.

Both horses will come in several gates once emergencies come out but are set to need luck regardless.

John Thompson was dealt a horror hand with Open Secret (barrier 19) and Deep Affection (20) set to jump from the two outside gates.

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott won last year’s Inglis Millennium with Fully Lit and could have as many as three runners this year with Cobra Club, Crown The King and first emergency Bellazaine.

Final fields for the Group 3 $250,000 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) and Listed $200,000 Lonhro Plate (1000m) will be released on Wednesday.

Originally published as Paul Perry rapt with The Magic Man’s draw as leading contenders draw wide