Gai Waterhouse not fussed by Carriages’ poor draw for Magic Millions

GAI Waterhouse has brushed off concerns about Carriages’ outside alley and even feels barrier 16 might be an advantage in this Saturday’s Magic Millions.

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GAI Waterhouse has brushed off concerns about Carriages’ outside alley and even feels barrier 16 might be an advantage in this Saturday’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m).

Waterhouse’s confidence is still sky-high despite her only guaranteed runner in the race this year drawing barrier 21 on Tuesday, meaning Carriages will jump from the outside barrier in the 16-horse field this Saturday.

Waterhouse, who is renowned for always being upbeat about her horses, said she is still “very confident” the Gold Coast-owned filly can help her claim her fifth 2YO Classic victory this weekend.

The majority of winners at the Gold Coast track have come down the middle or the outside of the track in recent weeks and Waterhouse feels the trend will continue this weekend.

“How many horses win out wide in those races and you are out of trouble and the track will be affected because of the rain we’ve had,” she said.

“I think it will be exactly the place to be and I bet you the winners will be coming out wide.

“I have always been very confident she can win and I still am.”

Surprisingly, barrier 16 has produced three winners in the 29-year history of the 2YO Classic- Molokai Prince (1988, colts and geldings division), Malibu Magic (1989, fillies division) and St. Jude (1990, colts and gelding division).

Barriers three (Le Chef), six (Single Gaze) and 13 (Surf Seeker) have also all produced three winners each in the race to date, while barriers seven (Zoutenant) and two (Flamenco) have proven to be the most successful producing four winners each.

But it’s not just the wide barrier that is the worry for Carriages.

The filly comes into the race 49 days between runs and there is a genuine concern whether she will be fit enough to run a strong 1200m this weekend.

Waterhouse has done it before though and she won the 2008 Golden Slipper with Sebring off a 49-day break.

And she said there was no reason why the method can’t prove fruitful again with Carriages this weekend even if the track is wet.

“Carriages has ticked every box and she constantly surprises people and she has always over performed compared to her odds,” Waterhouse said.

“She hasn’t had much exposure on wet tracks but there is only a handful of horses in the race that have won on wet tracks.

“And the horses that ran on the wet track (in the BJ Mclachlan Stakes on December 27) might have felt that run.”

Five horses in the 2YO Classic field have won on a soft or heavy track- Wicked Intent, Le Chef, Frequendly, Flamenco and Racy.

Most popular barriers in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1987-2014)

Barriers to produce four winners-two (Flamenco), seven (Zoutenant).

Barriers to produce three winners- three (Le Chef), six (Single Gaze), 13 (Surf Seeker) and 16 (Carriages).

Barriers to produce two winners- one (Claudia Jean), five (Wicked Intent), nine (Saga Of The Storm) and 15 (Old Trieste).

Barriers to produce one winner- four (Frequendly), eight (Racy), 10 (Perignon) and 11 (Madotti).

Barriers to produce no winners- barriers 12 (Pepperano) and 14 (Miss Idyllic).

*Record does not include one of the two editions of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in 1992 when the race was run over 1400m.