Skip to main navigation Skip to main content

Magic Millions Classic favourites ease after barrier draws

9 January 2018

Share this page

Share on a platform

Or copy the page link

Early Magic Millions 2YO Classic fancies Ef Troop and Sunlight have eased in betting after drawing wide in this morning's barrier draw at the Gold Coast. 

The Tony Gollan-trained Ef Troop eased from $3.40 to $4 after drawing barrier 18, while South Australian-trained Sunlight eased slightly ($4.20-$4.40) after drawing barrier 15. 

But veteran bookmaker Gerard Daffy from UBET believes both runners will almost certainly end up back where they were pre-draw, such is their popularity with punters.

“Looking at the bets before the draw, the only two they wanted were Ef Troop and Sunlight and, even though neither is drawn ideally, I can see a scenario where both get back to their original prices,” Daffy said.

“We saw it with Houtzen last year – she drifted initially on her carpark draw then was backed for an absolute stack on the day and she duly obliterated them."

Newcastle raider Jonker was the big winner and the major post-draw market mover, trimming up from $5.00 to 4.50 on the back of barrier 3. Nomothaj ($13 into $10 on barrier 2) and Meryl (18 into $16 on barrier 5) were also notable firmers.

Pierata, meanwhile, remains a white hot top pick for the other feature, the $2-million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, after snaring gate one.

“Barrier 1 might not actually be the best for him, but, no matter where he drew, he was never going to be displaced as favourite – he’s a jet,” said Daffy.

“He was already a horror result for us and I reckon it’ll probably get worse now because I can guarantee you the general public will want to be on him.”

Latest markets for the Classic and Guineas can be found here.