Jason Petch thinks Claro El Banco will surprise in Magic Millions 2YO Classic

RANK outsider Claro El Banco might just produce the biggest shock of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on Saturday.

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HE’s the rank outsider in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic field but trainer Jason Petch insists Claro El Banco can surprise everyone and finish in the top five on Saturday.

Bookmakers have completely disregarded the Victorian gelding with Claro El Banco rated a $126 chance in the $2.5 million race following his distant seventh behind Capitalist in the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic last month.

He won the Ballarat Magic Millions 2YO Clockwise Classic the start before in November and Petch told punters to completely dismiss Claro El Banco at your own peril this weekend.

“His run at Wyong is the reason why he is such a big price,” Petch said.

“Bearing in mind that he went to Wyong 30kg heavier than he was when he won at Ballarat purely because of the trip up the eastern seaboard.

“He was always going to be vulnerable that last bit if we wanted to lead and he was very slow to muster speed from the gate and Craig ­Newitt had to use him up far too much in the first 400m of the race.

“He just had nothing left at the finish but we had no concerns about the run at all and he was heavily backed that day but we didn’t have a stamp on him.”

Unlike many of the Victorian horses running on Magic Millions day this year, Claro El Banco has been on the Gold Coast for several weeks.

Petch said the horse had thrived in the Queensland sun and is now back to his ­optimal racing weight.

“I don’t think he can beat the favourite and Capitalist has a mortgage on the race,” the Mornington trainer said.

“Nikitas will be better for the run the other day, Slumber Party has trimmed up and looks a million dollars and Zelady’s Night Out might be a freak.

“But the rest of us are in the same boat.

“He has thrived in Queensland and he is now 3kg under his racing weight when he won at Ballarat.

“If he can get across from the wide gate and the track dries out then he is a live chance to weigh in and finish in the top five.”

Expect tears to flow if Claro El Banco can pull off perhaps the biggest boilover in Magic Millions history tomorrow.

Claro El Banco’s jockey Glyn Schofield will wear a black armband in honour of Petch’s former boss and Victorian trainer Bill Seymour, who died of cancer last month.

“He was like a dad to me and he tried to hold on to watch this horse race (on the Gold Coast) but unfortunately he couldn’t,” Petch said.