Punters divided over top Magic Millions 2YO Classic runners Ours To Keep and From Within
PUNTERS are divided across state lines as money flows in for Magic Millions $2 million 2YO Classic runners From Within and Ours To Keep.
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PUNTERS are divided across state lines as money flows in for From Within and Ours To Keep in the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Both history and the punters have put Brisbane-based Ours To Keep in the frame to win the Classic tomorrow.
The Chris Munce-trained colt has been the biggest mover in the two-year-old field, firming from $9 to $5.50 with UBET since the barrier draw on Tuesday.
Ours To Keep drew gate four but will move to barrier two if emergencies Tiara Star and Imaginalthepeople, who have drawn two and three respectively, don’t get a run.
Ours To Keep has had roughly three times more money placed on him with UBET than $3.20 favourite From Within, while the NSW-based TAB has had $50,000 placed on the latter, nearly double the money put on than any other horse.
One UBET punter has put $2000 on Ours To Keep to win and another placed $1500 on From Within.
Barrier two has produced five winners in the 2YO Classic, the most of any gate in the 34 Magic Million races to date.
Only barriers three and seven have come close to the same success with each having four winners.
Ours To Keep’s good draw and his unbeaten record from three Brisbane runs has prompted punters to splash out on the colt.
“Racing types generally consider Sydney and Melbourne form to be superior to what we produce up here in Queensland but that may not be the case this year,” UBET expert Gerard Daffy said.
“Ours To Keep is a good horse who has been winning all summer in fast times.
“He has Damian Browne in the saddle and is drawn to get the run of the race.
“Punters clearly thought the $9 was overs and, to be honest, it’s hard to argue.”
The support has pushed Ours To Keep to within reach of favourite From Within ($3.20) and Houtzen ($3.50).
Ours To Keep has been a star of the Queensland summer carnival since winning on debut in the Skytrans QTIS 2YO Colts and Geldings Plate (1050m) by 4.3 lengths at Doomben on October 1.
He went on to win the Phelan Ready Stakes and Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes and a win in the 2YO Classic would give Ours To Keep the summer two-year-old triple crown.
The $500,000 bonus from the triple crown would take his potential winnings tomorrow to $1.7 million.
Munce won the 2YO Classic three times as a jockey and will be keen to do it again as a trainer.
TAB spokesman Nick Quinn said the Chris Waller-trained From Within remained favourite down south because punters believed Sydney racing was stronger.
“Punters put more weight in Sydney form because traditionally it is the strongest lead-up form to the Magic Millions Classic,” Quinn said.
“NSW-trained horses have won four of the past six runnings of the Magic Millions Classic.”
Houtzen ($4.20) is From Within’s biggest rival in the TAB betting while the Gerald Ryan-trained Chauffer ($21) is the best-backed outsider.
In the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, Winning Rupert has firmed from $1.60 to $1.50 with both UBET and TAB.
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