Pinjarra Tips for Magic Millions Features 2024

Magic Millions day for the two and three-year-olds at set weights descends on Pinjarra Park in WA.

Let's start with the 3YO Trophy showdown over 1200m, and naturally the dominant question is whether Stormchaser deserves to be such a clear cut and hot $1.60 early favourite.

Favorite? Yes. In the "red?" Not so sure!

Having drawn the fence, and coming off some consistent and almost irresistible form for a race like this, with any sort of clear run from the turn Stormchaser is the one to beat.

But buried away off speed in a likely field of 15 may not do him any favours.

 

 

For me, drawn right alongside and resuming behind a quiet trial, Shooting Spirit around an early $10.00 mark was terrific "overs."

Very lightly raced, and bred to get a bit further being by Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner Shooting To Win, he must be the value play.

Yes, he'll likely also drift back to around midfield, but hark back to his debut run at Ascot last spring as a rock solid pointer.

Starting behind a dominant trial win, he ripped home late from well back to win a handy Saturday maiden.

Chris Parnham retains the ride for the Simon Miller yard, and importantly with blinkers on for the first time, I'll be shocked if he doesn't start a lot shorter.

Even longer in the market, Bondi Bubbles ($14.00) has knocked up winning a string of races in weaker company at Esperance; and hard fit he's over the odds.

So too is tough and honest Rock Juice ($17.00) who has not missed a place in his last six outings.

 

WA Magic Millions 3YO Trophey Showdown (1200m)

Track Conditions

With clear weather ahead, the track should remain a Good 4, or even closer to a 3, with the rail in the True position.

 

The Map

The speed should be solid enough, with rank long-shot Moorditj Boy the likely leader jumping from a middle barrier, together with Salt Lake Shake who is lightly raced with natural speed.

From a middle gate, resuming Snow Prince should also roll forward, along with Bondi Bubbles pushing on from wider out.

This should leave my fancied two around three or four pairs back, with plenty of cover.

 

 

The Favourite

No question Stormchaser from the Luke Fernie stable is the raging one to beat, but even money is near rock bottom for me.

His flashing win from the back at Ascot two starts ago was a terrific pointer for this, given he should relish getting on to a bigger circuit now with a longer straight.

But he was a little disappointing running home as a $2.30 favourite in the Listed Breeders Stakes at Bunbury last start, but the smaller field with less pace on didn't help.

 

Neil's Best Bet

At the each way value, I'm all in Shooting Spirit first-up behind a quiet trial, and crucially with blinkers on.

Might be worth "saving" on a Quinella with the favourite.

 

The Dangers

Naturally, Stormchaser is a huge threat from the low draw, while don't dismiss Bondi Bubbles and consistent Rocket Juice, ironically both sided by Bondi.

 

Neil's Top Four

1. SHOOTING SPIRIT
2. Stormchaser
3. Rocket Juice
4. Bondi Bubbles

 

Check out more tips for Feature Racing via the All-In Show

 

WA Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m)

Now the MM 2YO Classic, also over 1200m, and again another short-priced fancy has put an early gap in the market.

Unbeaten from two starts, Churchill filly Golden Vale deserves to be the clear benchmark, but is even more under the odds here from a tricky draw.

No question his dominant first-up win at Ascot was full of merit, sitting right on speed before bursting clear early in the straight.

But are we taking $1.90 in a race with more pressure on a bigger circuit, jumping from gate 11, and first time up to this distance?

I'd rather take the $8.50 about Safeguard filly Sinful Living from the Pearce brothers' stable coming through that same formline where he finished two lengths behind Golden Vale.

Sinful Living, though, was coming off a five week freshen-up, and just peaked on the run late having settled a few lengths back.

She'll be further forward for this, and gets a nice 1.5kg pull in the weights on the favourite this time.

 

The Speed Map

You can expect a stack of pressure early, especially from unbeaten gelding Onemoretwomany ($9.50) who will rush forward from a wide barrier.

He will be joined by Big Shots, London's Image and roughie Madhi Girl who all like to show speed.

That will help Golden Vale slotting in from a wider barrier just off speed, but even better, Sinful Living a length further back and at least one off the fence.

 

 

The Favourite 

Golden Vale is very promising, but around $2.50 is the mark for me on this map.

 

Neil's Best Bet 

Like in the previous race, there's plenty of reasons to take the value about Sinful Living who is tracking to peak.

I'd also be saving as well on Big Shots around $14.00 who has been afforded a string of gear changes fifth-up in his first prep.

 

Neil's Top Four 

1. SINFUL LIVING
2. Big Shots
3. Golden Vale
4. Onemoretwomany

 

Access more betting tips for Saturday racing here.