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Dunn banks on blinkers to help Badoosh sneak into Magic Millions

4 January 2019

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By Glenn Davis

Trainer Matt Dunn is hoping blinkers can help Badoosh’s chances of sneaking into the $2m Magic Millions Classic field when the gelding runs in the QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Dunn has a good opinion of Badoosh but the youngster has only $7,350 in prizemoney and is well short of the cut-off.

Badoosh picked up the majority of his prizemoney from a third placing behind the Liam Birchley-trained Courseshewill in the Pat O’Shea Plate at Toowoomba in September.

The son of Sebring subsequently finished fifth to star Melbourne colt Dubious at his only other start over 1000 metres at Eagle Farm on December 22.

“I thought his run against Dubious was very good,” Dunn said.

“He spent most of the time running sideways down the straight, so I’m putting blinkers on to help him focus.

“If he had run straight, I think he would have finished a lot closer to Dubious.”

Dunn has had only a few starters in the Magic Millions Classic with Madotti his best result when fourth to Le Chef in 2015.

“Badoosh needs to win and if he does the $61,000 first prize should be enough to get into the Magic Millions Classic,” Dunn said.

“I think he’s a real good chance tomorrow.”

The withdrawal of Sun City, the second highest qualifier for the race, has opened up the battle for the Magic Millions qualification with a number of fringe horses now in contention.

Meanwhile Dunn is resigned to missing the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) with Snow Valley who tackles the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1400m).

Snow Valley won her only two starts at Lismore and will be joined in the Gold Coast race by stablemate Spot On Spud, a last start sixth at Doomben last month.

“Snow Valley won’t have enough money to get into the Guineas as it’s taken her a while to find her feet,” Dunn said.

“She’s been very immature but eventually she’ll make a nice horse up to 1600 metres.

“It’s difficult to line up her chances but her Benchmark win at Lismore last start was very good and she drops back to her own age in this.

“Spot On Spud goes okay and has more experience of the two but Snow Valley is the better chance.”

Racing Queensland webnews   January 4