Ciaron Maher sizes up another Millions

By Brad Bishop, Trent Crebbin and Danny Matthews

Ciaron Maher knows what it takes to win a Magic Millions 2YO Classic and the leading trainer is optimistic he can win the race for the third time this Saturday.

The star horseman will be represented by Maribyrnong Plate champion Tornado Valley and brilliant debut Caulfield winner Unit Five in the $3 million event over 1200 metres on the Gold Coast.

Maher is full of respect for the Bjorn Baker-trained favourite Warwoven but is happy with his hand.

Warwoven is into odds-on after drawing well in barrier six, which will become five if the emergency Iransofar does not gain a start.

"They're very good chances, the favourite looks very hard to beat, but I think they'll be thereabouts," Maher said.

"Bjorn's has drawn well and it's the favourite for a reason – it looks a good on-speed, tough horse and they're hard to beat – but I'm very happy with ours."

Maher's earlier 2YO Classic wins came with Away Game (2020) and Coolangatta (2022), both when he was training in partnership with David Eustace.

They both won off a final lead-up run in Queensland and that's the approach Maher has taken with Tornado Valley, who was runner-up to Magic Millions second favourite Zip Lock in the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes on December 27.

The start prior the son of Too Darn Hot won the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day and Maher expects the addition of blinkers will spark a peak performance.

"I'm very happy with his preparation, it was the plan that we set out and he's definitely still very much on the up and will come on from his run the other day," Maher said.

"We've put the blinkers on just help him focus that little bit, he is pretty casual, so I think we'll get a twist there."

Tornado Valley will start to the immediate inside of Warwoven, while Supido colt Unit Five drew barrier nine.

Maher is satisfied with the alley.

And, while the 2YO Classic is yet to be won by a horse coming from a final lead-up run in Victoria since the gender-based divisions were dispensed with in 1991, he took great heart from his slick trial win at the Gold Coast on January 5.

"He trialled super, he came through his trial good and while he hadn't travelled before, that's been no problem at all," Maher said.

"I thought anywhere inside (barrier) 10 would be ideal and he's drawn nine, so that's not too bad."

In-form Victorian jockey Thomas Stockdale will be chasing the biggest win of his career aboard Unit Five, while Ethan Brown continues his association with Tornado Valley.

Meanwhile, while Adrian Bott knows what it's like to have the raging favourite for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, this year's ensemble will play the role of underdog.

The stable will be represented by colt Knightsbridge and fillies Shiki, Lumbini and By Choice in the $3 million feature. 

Bott trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse and they prepared boom two-year-old Storm Boy to win the Millions in 2024.

He says while all four of the stable's chances are double figures in betting, all have claims.

"You can make a good case for each of them going into the run," Bott said.

"I won't sort of put a top seed, but we've probably taken confidence off the horses that have won their most recent runs."

The market suggests last start Gold Pearl winner Shiki is the pick of the four, putting her on the fourth line of betting at $12 with Tim Clark to ride.