A quality field of three-year-olds will take their place on the Gold Coast this weekend for the annual running of the Magic Millions Guineas.
The Robert and Luke Price-trained Jamaea will go around as the favourite with a pair of Group 2 wins to her name in Sydney, while Team Snowden are a live chance to win the race for the second year in a row with co-favourite King Of Sparta.
The Vo Rogue Plate has always been a strong form line heading into this race, and there is plenty of value to be found for second placegetter Shihonka in the Ladbrokes market.
This year’s 3YO Guineas race shapes as one of the most exciting yet, and our thoughts on each runner can be found below.
Bend the Knee
Bend the Knee has found the money on both occasions over this trip, the most recent coming two back at Flemington where he took out the Listed Spring Time Stakes by the narrowest of margins.
The Snitzel colt has since returned from a freshen-up to run fifth in the Gosford Guineas, but he can be forgiven on that performance given the wet track.
He likes to get back and run on, and with plenty of fitness now on his side, he looks a good bet to run a place.
Jamaea
Jamaea burst onto the scene this time last year with a win on debut at Kembla Grange, and quickly followed that up with a black-type win in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes off a freshen-up at Randwick.
The Headwater filly resumed during the spring to win the Furious Stakes over 1200m second-up and was last seen running fourth lengths behind Golden Rose Stakes winner In The Congo.
The Robert and Luke Price-trained three-year-old has done some of best racing fresh, and there’s no doubt she has a class edge over some of her rivals alongside some strong trial form leading in.
King Of Sparta
King Of Sparta presents second-up following a strong finish for third in the Gosford Guineas last month.
The son of I Am Invincible was a very consistent customer during the spring, most notably filling the frame behind Paulele in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes.
He’s unproven over 1400m, but the way he made up out wide first-up suggests he’ll see it out.
Team Snowden won this race last year with Aim, and they look to have another genuine chance with this gelding that handles all going.
Release the Beans
Release the Beans is two-from-three over 1400m and looks set to peak in his third run back.
Robert Heathcote’s gelding ran third first-up in the Gold Edition at Eagle Farm and finished off fairly for fifth two weeks ago on a very wet track in the Vo Rogue Plate.
Back on a firmer surface, he’s good value for a place.
Far Too Easy
Far Too Easy is a progressive type that really hasn’t run a bad race since winning on debut at Grafton last year.
This is his first look at 1400m, but he did make up good ground for second behind Me Me Lagarde in the Gold Edition.
Can’t be underestimated and is a definite each-way chance with any rain about.
Starman
Starman is an absolute beauty for trainer Chris Waller.
The son of Zoustar was a clear winner on debut at Kensington last July, and he’s since returned to work in even better order with two wins from three starts.
He was somehow overlooked in betting last week when he put three lengths between himself and Frosty Mango over shorter, and based on that performance, there’s no question he’s ready for the step back up to 1400m.
Construct
Construct has mixed his form since he won at Kembla Grange last August.
He resumed from a freshen-up to run a clear second at Warwick Farm last month and was seen doing his best work late at Kensington on New Year’s Day.
He should appreciate racing with a kew kg’s off but whether he sees out 1400m for the first time looks to be the query.
I Am Lethal
I Am Lethal steps out in search of his hat-trick after putting 2.5L between himself and his rivals first-up at Kensington on New Year’s Day.
The John O’Shea-trained colt was back to 1300m that day coming off a freshen-up, but he is proven over further after winning his maiden over the trip last November.
This three-year-old has run no worse than fourth in six career starts, and with Hugh Bowman booked to ride, he’s a must-have in exotics.
Rhapsody Rose
Rhapsody Rose had her chances at a hat-trick denied three weeks ago when she ran second-last in the Gold Edition at Eagle Farm.
She faded badly in the finish that day after taking her usual position on-speed, but she should appreciate getting back out to 1400m.
The Star Witness filly won by 2.5L over this trip three runs back and will likely take some catching.
Miss Hipstar
Miss Hipstar was strong to the line for third last time out in the Vo Rogue Plate.
She’s mixed her form this time in work, but she does present fitter for four runs back.
Doesn’t win out of turn but could run a race at big odds if there’s any rain about.
Me Me Lagarde
Me Me Lagarde has recorded three wins from four starts to begin her career.
The Edmonds-trained filly steps out in search of her hat-trick after winning the Listed Gold Edition at Eagle Farm last month where she let down beautifully from the rear of the field to win with plenty in hand.
Everything about that performance suggests she’ll see out 1400m, and at this stage of her prep, she should be plenty fit.
Glorious Ruby
Glorious Ruby has failed to run a place in two starts over 1400m and looks tested here based on recent form.
She’s finished well down the straight in her last three starts since rising in grade and her price well and truly reflects that.
Shihonka
Shihonka is yet to put a foot wrong in seven starts for trainer’s Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
The three-year-old daughter of Capitalist won her maiden by more than six lengths at Wyong first-up back in September, before recording back-to-back wins at Rosehill last month over further.
She was a clear second to Tiger Heart in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate two weeks ago at Doomben on a very wet track, a run that she can only improve on now.
Tim Clark has rode her to all three of her wins so far, and the fact he is back in the saddle is a huge plus.
Indiscreetly
Indiscreetly brings an unbeaten record to the races and cannot be underestimated.
The filly by Spill the Beans won her maiden here on the Gold Coast back in November before venturing to Brisbane to win two starts at Eagle Farm and Doomben by big margins.
All three of her wins have come up on the speed, and although this is her toughest assignment yet, she’s going to give the others something serious to chase.
Ruby Kisses
Ruby Kisses ran seventh in the 2YO Classic last year and appears tested against some of these.
She finished off only fairly first-up at Kensington and her two wins so far have come over much shorter.
Dovetail Diva
Dovetail Diva has finished top five in seven of her eight starts to date and looks to be one of the main pace setters in the race.
She took some catching last time out when fourth in the Vo Rogue Plate and there is no doubt she’ll make her own luck on the speed again.
Socialist
Socialist found the winner’s stall in her return to the races last month and wasn’t far away from making it a double two weeks ago over 1300m at Kensington.
She won her maiden third-up under Jason Collett last year and the pair reunite for the first time on Saturday.
Snitzonfire
Snitzonfire won on debut on her way to a hat-trick during the spring, and he appears to be working towards another win coming off back-to-back placings since resuming.
The son of Snitzel has won over 1400m previously, and if he earns a spot in the field, he could run a sneaky race from the low draw.
Alert and Ready
Alert and Ready was an impressive four-length winner two weeks ago at Toowoomba.
Facing a stiffer test here but should be fitter for two runs back.
Mishani Scandal
Mishani Scandal is the third emergency and would likely have his work cut out from the ugly draw.
Sutto’s Gal
Sutto’s Gal is the fourth emergency and is unlikely to earn a spot in the field.
Our Hot Friend
Our Hot Friend has returned a place in his last four starts but would need luck to go his way as the fifth emergency.
