Magic Millions 2015: Ken Callander tips Surf Seeker to win

SURF Seeker, an $11 chance from the powerful Team Hawkes training stables, is my pick to win the Two-Year-Old Magic Millions on the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Photographs; Simon Bullard. Race 2 - 1:00PM EVERGREEN TURF CLARET STAKES (1300 METRES). Winner 'Meursault' ridden by Christian reith.

SURF Seeker, an $11 chance from the powerful Team Hawkes training stables, is my pick to win the Two-Year-Old Magic Millions on the Gold Coast today.

Surf Seeker’s debut run in the Wyong Magic Millions Preview three weeks back was sensational with the colt making up many lengths down the short Wyong straight and coming within a whisker of beating Zoutenant.

The big problem for the youngster is he has drawn 18 barrier, but, if the emergencies don’t get a run, he will come into 13 and James McDonald will ride him back in the field. If he gets half a crack at them in the home straight I think Surf Seeker can power home over the top of the likes of Wicked Intent, Frequently, Claudia Jean and Perignon.

Race 1 Randwick (1.00)

Betting: $2.30 Boomwaa, $3.20 Pythagorean, $3.80 She’s Clean, $8 Eigelstein

Comment: The questions to ask are can Melbourne visitor Boomwaa run 1400m, will She’s Clean have a big advantage with the small field and he strong finish or will the in-form Pythagorean he able to outgun both of them? Chris Waller has three of the five runners. Perhaps Boomwaa, with only 14 runs behind him, has the most upside.

Bet: 7 Boomwaa

Exotics: Quinella 3 She’s Clean, 7 Boomwaa

Race 2 (1.35)

Betting: $2.40 Flamboyant Lass, $3.80 Maternal, $5 Counterattack, Entrancing

Comment: Only three of the eight have raced and Flamboyant Lass and Counterattack ran reasonable city placings. Of the unraced brigade Entrancing looked smart in a speedy Rosehill trial display and Maternal hit the line nicely when ridden quietly in a W.Farm hit-out.

Bet: 7 Entrancing

Exotics: Qunella 6 Flamboyant Lass, 7 Entrancing

Race 3 (2.15)

Betting: $2.60 Inz’N’Out, $3.60 Meursault, $4.20 Kaepernick, $9.50 Dupe ‘Em, Adjective

Comment: Inz’N’Out returned from a spell with a good run at Canterbury two weeks back and should be up in front with Kaepernick and be hard to hold out. Kaepernick was backed like a moral last start at Rosehill but disappointed. Meursault is horse with a future, winning easily at his first run and then running into trouble when stepped up to Group company. He has trialled soundly.

Bet: 3 Meursault

Exotics: Exacta 3 Meursault, 1 Inz’N’Out

Race 4 (2.50)

Betting: $3.20 Tarangower, $3.50 Chestnut Road, $4.60 Smart Moochi, $6 Timeless Prince

Comment: Tarangower has plenty of potential and won first-up last preparation while Chestnut Road caught the eye first-up at Randwick on Boxing Day. Timeless Prince, sound run last Saturday, is in the mix, Queenian is in a race to suit and Smart Moochi has held his place in the market.

Bet: 4 Tarangower

Exotics: Box quinella 1 Timeless Prince, 4 Tarangower, 5 Queenian,

Race 5 (3.30)

Betting: $4.20 Medusa’s Miss, $5 Holy Delusions, Hoybell, $6 Caprossa, $7 Frill Seeking

Comment: Caprossa was run off her feet behind Mardi last week. The tempo, with Miss Ready and Il Mio Destino being the other leaders, could suit her better this week. Hoybell (resuming) will get a good run, Holy Delusions can be hot and cold, but is a chance and Oh My Papa caught the eye in a tough race last start. Medusa’s Miss, a strong third to Kristy Lee last run, is a big firmer in betting.

Bet: 3 Oh My Papa

Exotics: Box trifecta 2 Caprossa, 3 Oh My Papa, 4 Hoybell, 5 Miss Ready

Race 6 (4.10)

Betting: $2.30 The Alfonso, $6 Drago, Diametric, $11 Black Jag, Laidback Larry

Comment: Waller has three of the favourites, The Alfonso, Diametric and Black Jag as well as Gosh (an import with form). Black Jag looks the leader with Laidback Larry and Kurtley. Black Jag won his only previous race over this track and distance. Diametric has not really produced in three Aussie runs, but The Alfonso ‘s last start third in a strong race was excellent. Laidback Larry has a chance.

Bet: 1 Black Jag

Exotics: Quinella 1 Black Jag, 5 The Alfonso

Race 7 (4.50)

Betting: $3.80 Inside Job, $4.20 Thermal Current, $4.60 Nuclear Class, $7 Agent, $8 Quell

Comment: As in most 1000m races, there is heaps of speed and Thermal Current, with fair recent Melbourne form, can sit back and finish hard. Nuclear Class and Quell will be up there, but might not help each other while Inside Job has no weight and can get a good run off the pace. Agent has prospects, but is running out of chances. There has been specking in early betting for Big Bonanza.

Bet: 3 Thermal Current

Exotics: Box quinella 3 Thermal Current, 4 Big Bonanza, 7 Inside Job

Race 8 (5.30)

Betting: $4.20 Emerald City, $4.60 Great Esteem, Unique, $7 Diamondsinthenight

Comment: Not an easy race and the speed could be muddling. Diamondsinthenight’s last two runs have been good, particularly his second to Magical Stance at Canterbury. Great Esteem is chasing his fourth win on the trot and is right in it, Emerald City is going OK and gets a good run from barrier (1) and Unique and Jitterbug fought out a similar race over 1600m here two weeks ago.

Bet: 5 Diamondsinthenight

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Great Esteem, 2 Unique, 5 Diamondsinthenight, 8 Another Charger

Originally published as Magic Millions 2015: Ken Callander tips Surf Seeker to win