Australia: Full fields gather for rich Magic Millions card

Consecutive group-level stakes in the second half of November have left Sniztanova an early favorite to win Friday’s $1.85 million Magic Millions 3-year-old Guineas at Gold Coast Racecourse in Australia, but only a slight one.

In a full field of 18, the Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old filly will need a clean trip in the seven-furlong race to utilize her late kick.

Trained by Ciaron Maher, Sniztanova won twice at one mile in group stakes in November, the last of which was the Group 2 Sandown Guineas at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne. She closed from fifth of 11 to win by slightly less than a half-length. As of early betting on Thursday, Snitzanova was 5-1 for the 3-year-old Guineas.

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Another filly, Tuileries, is capable of a win in the 3-year-old Guineas but has drawn an outside post. Tuileries, who was 7-1 in early betting on Thursday, tends to run from off the pace.

The betting is not much different in the preceding race, the $1.85 million Magic Million 2-year-olds Classic at six furlongs.

Gallo Nero (5-1) and Icarian Dream (6-1) are two leading candidates who are also in the future-book list for the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney on March 22.

Gallo Nero beat the highly-regarded Apocalyptic in a lucrative handicap for 2-year-olds at 5 1/2 furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Dec. 28. Apocalyptic is being held out of the 2-year-old Classic in favor of races leading to the Golden Slipper, her trainer announced last week.

The 2-year-old Classic drew a full field of 16. Invincible Woman, La Bella Boom, Memo and Space Rider were all 5-1 or 6-1 on Thursday.

Invincible Woman may be the runner to catch. She led throughout the Magic Millions 2-year-old Classic at 5 1/2 furlongs at Caulfield on Dec. 14 in her debut and only start.

The 10-race Gold Coast program begins at 9:30 p.m. Eastern or 6:30 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The lucrative program includes the $1.23 million Magic Millions Cup, a seven-furlong handicap. There is no clear favorite in the field of 18.

Charm Stone, a stakes winner at six furlongs at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne in September 2023, will be closing from off the pace. Charm Stone was eight of 14 in the Group 1 Rupert Clarke Stakes at seven furlongs at Caulfield on Nov. 16.

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