Trainer Tony Gollan expects the Magic Millions 2YO Classic market to be turned on its head again

Champion trainer Tony Gollan has seen a lot of things in racing but never a betting market quite like the one for Saturday’s $3m Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

Champion trainer Tony Gollan says he has never seen a betting market like it and expects it to be turned on its head again in the last 24 hours before the $3m Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

There have been some startling betting moves both ways – notably when pre-barrier draw favourite Icarian Dream blew like a rusty gate and went from $4.50 to $8 after drawing wide.

Ciaron Maher’s filly has now firmed back to $6 but Gollan, whose leading contender La Bella Boom has firmed from $11 into $8 in recent days, said the betting markets is incredibly volatile.

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He said it sums up how open the Magic Millions is, given there has not been a dominant two-year-old like there has often been in previous years.

Gollan said the betting market remains immature and he expects significant changes to come.

There has been strong recent money for Gallo Nero who now shares $5.50 favouritism with Invincible Woman.

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“I think the betting market is all over the place,” Gollan told Racenet.

“I don’t think I have ever seen a favourite drift so heavily off a barrier draw.

“I’m talking about Icarian Dream.

“I think the betting market is still very new and there is a lot of changes in the market to come.

Tony Gollan-trained filly La Bella Boom surged into contention for the Magic Millions with a strong win at Sunshine Coast. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

“We probably haven’t seen a really dominant pre-Christmas two-year-old and that’s probably Australia wide to be honest.

“It’s probably indicative of how the betting market is.

“How weak or strong the race is, I think will be judged over the next 12 months.

“At the moment they seem an even bunch of two-year-olds, whether they are evenly good or not, who knows.”

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Gollan has three contenders in his bid to win his second Magic Millions Classic with Hi Barbie ($19) and Formula Rossa ($81) joining sensational last start winner La Bella Boom in the field.

He says the race is up for grabs.

“Hi Barbie’s barrier (14) probably hasn’t done her any favours,” Gollan said.

“Because of the perceived evenness of the field, maybe the barriers come into more relevance this year.

“La Bella Boom has drawn kinder.

“She is a robust and resilient filly coming off a good win seven days out, it’s a pretty good formula.”

Tony Gollan is expecting more betting fluctuations for the Magic Millions. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

TAB’s Gerard Daffy could barely believe the drift on Icarian Dream when the barriers came out.

Six of the last eight Magic Millions have been won from barrier eight or wider.

“Betting markets normally change after barrier draws, but this was unheard of on Icarian Dream, it was an unbelievable drift,” Daffy said.

“The market is changing a lot because we don’t have any standout two-year-olds like we normally have.

“This year, you could find a reason to be on most of the two-year-old runners – or not be on them.

“There’s also the strong possibility of wet weather on Friday and Saturday which has thrown a spanner in the works.”

Originally published as Trainer Tony Gollan expects the Magic Millions 2YO Classic market to be turned on its head again