Magic Millions Joint Favourite to Jumpout Friday

Ben Dorries - Wednesday Jan 3

Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic co-favourite EF Troop will jumpout at Eagle Farm on Friday morning in his last serious piece of work before next week's rich juvenile feature.

Tony Gollan's unbeaten gelding will be ridden by his race jockey Matt McGillivray in the 800m jumpout on the A-Grass at Eagle Farm.

Spirit of Boom is the sire of Ef TroopGollan could have opted to trial the son of Spirit Of Boom at Deagon on Thursday but the prospect of some rain in Brisbane in the next 24 hours – plus the prospect of slightly cooler weather on Friday – swayed him to the Eagle Farm jumpout.

Ef Troop, who smashed his rivals by more than five lengths in the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes at Doomben last month, shares Magic Millions favouritism at $4 with David Atkins' unbeaten colt Jonker.

"The jumpout on Friday will be EF Troop's main bit of work before the Millions, and he will probably just stretch his legs next week," Gollan said.

"He won't head down the Gold Coast until (Magic Millions) raceday but he is already familiar with the place, having won a trial there (by 20 lengths).

"I am really happy with EF Troop and he has been a remarkably straightforward horse to train at this stage.

"With 10 days to go, it's just a matter of dotting the i's and crossing the t's with him."

Advertisement

Stablemate Outback Barbie, rated a $26 Magic Millions chance, is also likely to jumpout at Eagle Farm on Friday and Gollan is hoping to get them in different heats.

"I don't really want them racing each other if at all possible," Gollan said.

Rising star McGillivray has been confirmed for the EF Troop ride in the Magic Millions in what could be the biggest payday of the Brisbane jockey's career.

"The connections made that decision after his last run, and I'm sure Matt will give him a good ride in the Millions," Gollan said.

"To be honest, we didn't hear too much from many other jockeys about the ride and we certainly didn't go chasing any other jockeys."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Super Seth 3YO Leads Waller First Four in $100,000 Super Maiden
The $100,000 Super Maiden (1400m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday delivered a first four for the Chris Waller stable with victory going to the well backed favourite Quarterback, who has a half-brother to be offered at the NZB Ready to Run Sale next week.
Spirit Of Boom Mare Opens Stakes Account
Sunshine Coast trainer David Vandyke had a good day at the office at Doomben on Saturday, winning the opening race with the debutant Red Stiletto before closing out the programme with a maiden stake success with the 4-year-old Spirit Of Boom mare Frangipani Moon in the Listed Just Now Stakes (1350m).
Barbie Storms Home for a Magical Feature
It was a case of third time lucky at the Magic Millions for popular mare Outback Barbie who, after placings in the 2YO Classic in 2018 and 3YO Guineas in 2019, won the $1 million Racing Queensland Magic Millions QTIS Quality (1300m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Racing Industry Mourns Much Loved Izzy Neale
The thoroughbred racing industry is devastated tonight following news that apprentice jockey Izzy Neale, aged 22, has tragically died as the result of a race fall at Warren on Sunday.
2027 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1881 entries for the 2027 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Spirit Of Brodie Makes it 16 for Spirit Of Boom
Of the 118 foals from Spirit Of Boom's 2020 crop, there is just one grey, Spirit Of Brodie, who broke his maiden with a fighting win over a 1000m at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
Doing Time Wins $100,000 Sprinters Challenge at Riccarton
Lee Callaway shared many jockeys’ rooms with Chris Johnson throughout his riding career, so it was only fitting that the Waikouaiti trainer took out the inaugural running of the Chris Johnson Three-Year-Old Sprinters Challenge (1200m) at Riccarton on Wednesday with Doing Time.
Darley Announce 2027 European Fees -Night of Thunder Soars to €450,000
It will be Dubawi central at Darley in 2027 with the legendary 24YO sire priced at £350,000, but the roster is topped by his champion son Night of Thunder at €450,000 and there are three more G1 winning sons or grand-sons of Dubawi also added to a power packed roster.
Remembering Sunline – The Queen of the Cox Plate Before Winx
From our vantage point in 2026, we can look back at modern Cox Plate history and marvel at how quickly the years are passing.
Unraced First Season Sires Trial Report
It’s been a pretty steady start to spring in terms of 2YO races and we are still waiting to see a first season sire post a winner, but there has been action aplenty at the trials which would indicate the pre-Christmas period is set to ignite.