Magic Millions 2015: Records show inside barriers vital in 2YO Classic

WICKED Intent part-owner Chris Goddard had good reason to give after big fist-pump after pulling out barrier five at this morning’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic Barrier Draw.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 06: Horses race on the beach before the Magic Millions Barrier Draw on January 6, 2015 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

WICKED Intent’s part-owner Chris Goddard had good reason to give the big fist-pump after pulling out barrier five at this morning’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic Barrier Draw.

Similarly, prolific winning owner David Henderson had good reason to drop his head and lament his bad luck with Carriages coming up with gate 21 (she will jump from 16).

In some feature races, barrier draws can be overplayed.

Local hopes draw well for MM Classic

Not the Magic Millions.

No fewer than 17 of the past 20 winners have jumped from single digit draws. The past three winners, Driefontein, Real Surreal and Unencumbered, had gates two, two and three.

Wicked Intent drew barrier five for the 2Y0 Classic. Picture: Jono Searle

Liam Birchley had a mixed bag at the draw. Flamenco drew gate two, Saga Of The Storm 10 and Pepperano 17.

Saga Of The Storm will qualify for the single digit statistic when fifth emergency Wicked Investment comes out.

Birchley came to the draw armed with the statistic that since December 13, five of the six 1200m winners at the Gold Coast came from barriers one to five and 15 of the 18 placings also came from those same inside gates.

The market for the Magic Millions didn’t change an awful lot after the draw.

The two favourites going in, Wicked Intent and Frequendly (4) drew well.

Magic Millions Ambassador, Rachel Finch draws a barrier during the barrier draw.

Melbourne filly Claudia Jean drew the inside and also held her spot high in betting.

Perignon (11), who will come from off the speed, held her place at $8.50, while Single Gaze trimmed up to $9, with Damien Oliver to steer her from barrier six.

The Team Hawkes-trained Surf Seeker (18) eased to $13, while Carriages was out to $17.

Impressive last-start winner Le Chef was also at $17, with his chances enhanced when gate three came out.

In the 29 years of the race, eight horses have won the Magic Millions (excluding the years where they also ran a fillies division) from double digit draws.

Waves of success: A horse gallops on Surfers Paradise beach before the Magic Millions barrier draw.

They included the short-priced favourites Bold Promise, Clan O’Sullivan, General Nediym and Excellerator, who all had plenty on their rivals.

Bruce McLachlan had St Jude and Our Fiction win from wider out, while Mokokai Prince had to rely on the stewards to present him the race.

The most recent double figure barrier winner was Mirror Mirror, who came from well off the speed at huge odds in 2006.

In stark contrast to the 2YO Classic, barriers in the 3YO Guineas have been far less important.

In fact, it has been an advantage to be drawn wide in this 1400m race, with nine of the 14 winners to date coming from barrier 10 or wider.

The last six winners all jumped from 10 or worse.

This year’s favourite, Hijack Hussy, drew barrier six this morning.

· Statistics: Form Focus

Originally published as Magic Millions 2015: Records show inside barriers vital in 2YO Classic