There will be plenty of pressure on Gai Waterhouse’s Echo Gal when she lines up in this Thursday’s Wyong Magic Millions Stakes given the recent performance of stable-mates in the race. Waterhouse ran second in the 2012 editions with Driefontein before going one better last year with Sweet Idea. Driefontein went on to run third in the Magic Millions Guineas whilst Sweet Idea completed the double, recording a length victory over Estonian Princess when she contested the Guineas. Both mares have gone on to bigger and better things in the seasons since with Driefontein a Group 1 winner and Sweet Idea having been placed at the elite level on three occasions. A former Waterhouse runner, Cyclone, will be out to spoil the party though. After two good runs back from a spell, he was one of many on the day that didn’t handle the inferior surface at Kensington but, with a good draw and one of Sydney’s leading hoop aboard, he represents a legitimate danger.
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1. CYCLONE – B Shinn (4)
Returned from a spell for new trainer Bjorn Baker as a gelding and with a dominant win at a mid-week Canterbury meeting over Invitations before having little luck from the inside draw when fifth (3.6 lengths) to Hauraki at Randwick. Forget his following and most recent run three weeks ago on a poor Kensington track when wide throughout and struggling on a poor surface. Showed enough at his first two runs this prep to be right in the mix here.
2. MURT THE FLIRT – B Avdulla (8)
First foal of unraced mare Loves Attention who posted a smart win on debut, winning the Ballarat Magic Millions Classic by 1.8 lengths after finishing strongly from a midfield position. Second in the race Boundary, has since ran well again at Sandown finishing third in a BM 70 (1400m). The daughter of Murtajill showed a good turn of foot on debut and can only be better for having had that outing.
3. NEXT LEVEL – T Angland (5)
Ran home well second up from a spell to claim third in a Class 1 at Gosford behind Cap Domingo before taking advantage of an inside draw and settling closer the speed in a Wyong Class 1 three weeks ago. The well-bred More Than ready gelding couldn’t match it with Tears In Heaven over the final stages, running second by a length. Should get a gun run from gate five but would’ve like to have seen him win his last start heading into a stronger race such as this.
4. CHOICE WE HAD – J Bowman (1)
Choisir colt who won one of his first three starts under the care of Gold Coast trainer Bruce Hill before joining the Randwick stables of Snowden Racing earlier this year. Started a 9/4 favourite when having his first start for the new yard and duly saluted in a the Newcastle BM 65, rounding up the field in good style from a position worse than midfield to win by a comfortable 1.5 lengths. Drawing the inside here could be tricking on the tight Wyong track for a back-maker but does appear to have plenty of natural ability and cannot be taken lightly.
5. TAMMANY HALL – (10)
Makes his debut for trainer Anthony Cummings and has drawn the outside gate in the field of ten. The gelding is by Manhattan Rain and is the first foal of Exceed And Excel mare Miss Exxi who from five starts, recording two thirds. Last week, at his only trial, he ran second to Manhattan Island by four lengths, with that horse running sixth of eight last week on debut at Warwick Farm as the $3 favourite.
6. ECHO GAL – T Berry (3)
Winner of three of her nine starts; the Gai Waterhouse trained filly has contested some smart races at her most recent start with commendable results. She ran second to the smart Kuro in the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m) and led to the furlong before running fifth (6.1 lengths) in the G1 Flight Stakes (1600m) won by First Seal. Has had a smart trial win since that run in preparation for this race and will push forward from gate three to set or in the least sit on the pace, an advantage at Wyong. Past efforts read very well for this and should be heavily involved in the finish.
7. TETSUKO – K McEvoy (2)
Despite a lengthy lay-off and a soft track, the Gerald Ryan filly was sent out the $3.5 favourite for her return run at Canterbury a fortnight ago. Settling just off the pace, the daughter of I Am Invincible could only maintain her position in the run home, finishing fourth (3.5 lengths) behind Chelsea Hotel. That run, combined with a drier surface, should see a sharp improvement here and efforts on debut in the Gimcrack Stakes (2nd) and in the G2 Sweet Embrace (3rd) when to Believe Yourself, are good enough to see her winning here.
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8. KOKOMO – P King (7)
He recorded his third from his last five starts with a length victory in a BM 70 scamper over 900m at Newcastle last start. The Paul Perry trained filly was given every chance in the run from a good gate and on the line, defeated Zero Cash and I’m Usain. Will find it hard to secure the same cushy run from gate seven on Thursday though and takes on a much tougher field.
9. AEROBAR – K McEvoy (6)
She resumed this campaign by registering her first career win in a Warwick Farm maiden on a heavy track before heading to Melbourne for the G3 Gucci Stakes (1100m). Drew wide and ran an honest ninth (5 lengths) of sixteen behind Onemorezeta before returning to Sydney for the more suitable BM 71 (1200m) at Rosehill. The Flying Spur filly led but was quickly overhauled in the straight, dropping to run last of eight and over a dozen lengths from the winner Harrier Jet. Has had a winning trial since that run but best chances of victory here seem to be with some cut being out of the track.
10. QUEEN OF KARIBA – S Clipperton (9)
Closed strongly two starts back to run fifth (1.4 lengths) behind Vanilla Princess in a Restricted Fillies and Mares race, which has since proven a good form reference, before being kept in a pocket at the top of the straight by subsequent winner Harrier Jet when sixth (4.4 lengths) in a BM 71 (1200m). That was only her second run since mid-September and didn’t have a great deal of luck so should allow for improvement here but maybe too much required from the awkward draw.
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RACE OVERVIEW
Echo Gal leads out from the inside with Choice We Had and Kokomo, who’ll cross from the outside, keeping her company. Echo Gal’s run in the Heritage Stakes behind Kuro, who was subsequently placed in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes behind Brazen Beau, is hard to go past here. From the 1100m of that race, she stepped up to the mile of the G1 Flight Stakes and lead until the final furlong. Fresh from a break, she’ll be very hard to run down. Cyclone and Tetsuko sit just off the pace and will be poised to launch their claims on the turn. Cyclone’s first two runs back were very good and best to strike his last start from his record. Tetsuko will be a sharp improver on a firmer surface and with a run off a good break now under her belt.
1. ECHO GAL
2. CYCLONE
3. TETSUKO
