Tigroni’s owners eye big payday

By Brad Bishop  

Tigroni is chasing an ambitious maiden victory in Saturday's $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast, but she does not need to win to land a big payday for her owners.

The John O'Shea and Tom Charlton-trained filly is one of just three runners in the 1200 metre contest eligible for Magic Millions' racing women's bonus, which offers an extra $500,000 in incentives to horses owned wholly by women.

First home will pocket $325,000, in addition to any prizemoney earned in the race carrying a $1.7 million winner's purse.

Charlton said it was a hard race to bypass with Tigroni, who landed a third minor placing from as many starts when third in last Saturday's Gold Pearl.

"Once she was trialling well back in October time and then raced very well first-up it was probably the obvious target, particularly given she's a ladies syndicate horse," Charlton said.

"She had a little freshen-up and then ran well again when third behind By Choice and then, again, we we're happy with her run on Saturday when things probably didn't quite go to plan.

"So, this is a race we've targeted. We're under no illusion, but if there's a few chinks in the armours of the top picks then she might be a good top three chance."

Tigroni, a daughter of Tiger Of Malay who cost $85,000 at last year's sales, is a $41 chance and the most fancied of the three in the running for the bonus, which offers $100,000 for the second horse home and $50,000 for third.

The others, Leaves Of Lorien and Inhabit, are both at big odds. 

While Charlton knows Tigroni needs a few things to go her way in a race dominated by the Bjorn Baker-trained Warwoven, he considers Getafix firmly in contention in the $2 million Magic Millions Cup.

The 1400 metre race became a target once the stable abandoned plans to head to the $10 million Golden Eagle.

After a win in the grey's race at Flemington on Oaks Day, sights were set firmly on the Gold Coast.

Getafix's only run since was a fifth placing in the Listed Canterbury Sprint, which was won by King's Secret on New Year's Day.

"He's had a great little freshen-up and then ran well last start," Charlton said.

"Spywire, who finished behind him, won The Syndicate so that form may be okay and he gets back to 1400 metres."

Getafix has 53kg and barrier one, with Zac Lloyd to ride, in the Magic Millions Cup, for which he is second favourite behind local hope Yellow Brick.