I Spy: Forgotten horse to surprise in $3m Sunlight slot race

A year ago, Spywire was one of the top fancies for the Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Now he looms as the ‘forgotten horse’ in the $3m Sunlight slot race on Saturday.

Spywire winning as a two-year-old. Picture: Grant Peters / Trackside Photography

Spywire has never really delivered on his booming potential but big-time owner Ozzie Kheir feels he can spring a shock as the “forgotten horse” of the $3m Magic Millions Sunlight slot race on the Gold Coast on Saturday.

A $520,000 yearling purchase, Spywire was the talk of the town going into last year’s Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic after winning two of three in the lead-up including when bolting in the week before on the coast.

But the colt hasn’t won since – finishing third in the Magic Millions last January when beaten by almost five lengths by Storm Boy and then not placing in three subsequent starts in 2024.

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The Ciaron Maher-trained colt will go first-up into the inaugural Sunlight slot race but there has been some decent each-way money for him this week and he has firmed into be a $23 chance.

Multiple Group 1-winning owner Kheir explained why Spywire had not been seen at the races since May.

“He was going really well and then he had an accidental setback in the stable some time ago so we have been working through that,” Kheir said.

Ozzie Kheir (centre). Picture: Getty Images.

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“He knocked his leg on a treadmill and it was only a couple of months setback, but it was enough to miss the good races in the spring.

“So we are going first-up into this race

“He is a bit of a forgotten horse, but he is back to 100 per cent and I think he might surprise a few people going forward this preparation.

“He did look really good as a two-year-old so hopefully he can reproduce some of his early form.”

It's all Spywire in the Gold Nugget!@CWilliamsJockey the pilot for @cmaherracing. pic.twitter.com/EW1nQFxckk

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 6, 2024

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Group 1-winning Victorian jockey Ethan Brown will make the trip to the Sunshine State to ride Spywire in the rich 1100m scamper on Saturday’s twilight card on the Gold Coast.

Spywire has drawn to advantage in barrier six in a race in which both favourites have been easy in betting since the barrier draw.

Despite drawing barrier one, Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot has drifted from $2.50 to $2.70.

Well-performed filly Arabian Summer has drifted from $5 to $6 after drawing barrier 11 of 12.

There has been money for both Clinton McDonald-trained Vestas ($8 into $6.50) and Nathan Doyle’s unbeaten weapon Private Harry ($8 into $6.50).

Originally published as I Spy: Forgotten horse to surprise in $3m Sunlight slot race