Ninja out to frank MM Guineas claims

By Brad Bishop and Danny Matthews

The Magic Millions Guineas favourite is set to have a final lead-up run in the Vo Rogue Plate. 

Ninja will put the finishing touches on his Magic Millions 3YO Guineas preparations with a maiden appearance at stakes level this Saturday.

The gelded son of Farnan will contest the $300,000 Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate at Eagle Farm.

The MyRacehorse galloper, who has just four starts to his name, is favourite for the Magic Millions Guineas and trainer Michael Freedman is happy with the way the campaign is coming together.

"He's great, he had a jump out midweek last week at the Gold Coast just to keep his fitness up," Freedman said.

"I'd always planned for him to go into Magic Millions Guineas third-up.

"Knowing that he was going to be four weeks between, that's why he had the 1000 metre jump out last week, just to keep him up to the mark."

Ninja's only start this campaign realised a third placing, beaten just half-a-length, in the 1200 metre Pierata Plate, which was won by Grafterburners at Doomben on December 6.

Andrew Adkins was in the saddle that day but Tommy Berry goes aboard this weekend and Freedman's biggest concern is how they overcome gate 12 in the field of 14.

"He's drawn a bit awkwardly out in gate 12, that's a little bit of a concern and something he's going to have to try and overcome, but the horse himself is in great form," Freedman said.

Ninja was as short as $2.40 for the Vo Rogue Plate at 11am on Friday and how he performs there will determine whether he holds his place on the top line of betting for the Guineas at the Gold Coast on January 17.

Meanwhile, the disappointment of losing Cool Archie for the summer for Chris and Corey Munce has been somewhat softened by Zip Lock's win in a reliable lead-up at Eagle Farm.

Zip Lock was rated a $11 chance for the $3 million 1200 metre feature on January 17 but has firmed into $7 after winning the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes.

After winning on debut in November, then being freshened before this start six weeks later, Zip Lock ($3.20) beat home race fancy Tornado Valley who settled slightly worse than midfield and had to race three-wide for most of the trip.

"Credit to the horse after that freshen-up," co-trainer Chris Munce said.

"He had the trial the other day and he improved enormously off it. I guess we head to the Millions now.

"I said to owners that I wasn't going to put a lot of emphasis on the Magic Millions because I had a lot of time for him.

"I thought he was going to be a winter two-year-old and a lovely three-year-old."

The Melbourne Cup-winning jockey-turned trainer said it was a worthwhile win for jockey Justin Huxtable.

"I think this was good for Justin," Munce said.

"He's been with our stable for a long time and he is a tall lad and he doesn't ride too many bad ones."

The Munce team purchased Zip Lock for $160,000 at the 2025 Gold Coast Yearling Sale and the colt will be out to follow Coolangatta in 2021 and Storm Boy in 2023 who won this race before saluting in the Magic Millions feature at Gold Coast a few weeks later.

Tornado Valley eased for the 2026 version from $6 out to $9 after this defeat while the Bjorn Baker-trained Warwoven maintains favouritism at $3.