While he doesn’t have a two-year-old for the Magic Millions Classic this year, trainer Gerald Ryan has several youngsters he hopes can make an impression this season.

Ryan had earmarked Regimental Force as one mature enough for next month’s $2 million race at the Gold Coast but he was found to be injured after his debut third at Randwick last month.

The trainer turns his attention this week to Tango Rain who has his first start in the 2YO Plate (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Tango Rain races in the colours of Sri Lankan businessman Muzzaffar Yaseen whose Australian racing interests are headlined by the legacy of Shantha’s Choice, a filly he raced and then kept as a broodmare.

Shantha’s Choice produced champion racehorse and sire Redoute’s Choice and his sire son Mahattan Rain is the father of Tango Rain.

“He is a really nice horse,” Ryan said.

“He’s had two trials and is coming along well so we’ll see what he can do on Saturday.”

In his first trial, Tango Rain finished 5-1/2 lengths third behind Capitalist, a margin that doesn’t seem as big now that the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt is the odds-on favourite for the Magic Millions.

The two-year-old race at Rosehill has attracted 10 nominations including Zafina but the Gary Portelli-trained filly will be given the easier option of a Gosford maiden on Tuesday.

Zafina is owned by Magic Millions proprietor Gerry Harvey and Portelli is hoping she can add to her $24,000 earnings and scrape into the big race on January 9.

“She needs to win at Gosford to have any chance to go to the Gold Coast,” Portelli said.

“But if she can, I’m hoping she can scramble into the field.”

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au