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The picture for the rich Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast on January 12th did not get any clearer after the juveniles raced at Canterbury on Saturday in the 2013 ATC Membership On Sale Now Plate won by Dothraki.
The Gerald Ryan trained Mossman colt was fifth in the Wyong Magic Millions over 1100m on December 20th, won by Assail, but was expected by the stable to win well on Saturday.
That expectation was looking likely as the field turned in to the main straight after Glyn Schofield had led with Dothraki and with the rest of the field struggling to match the pace. With 200m to run Dothraki was 2 1/2L clear and win looked a formality.
However, within a further 100m the expectation was under serious threat as Dothraki tired and also lost concentration reported Schofield.
The Gai Waterhouse trained Aussies Love Sport, the subject of a large Magic Millions plunge, and Tommy Berry came quickly and started to over haul the leader with every stride.
Schofield swapped the whip over to his left hand for variation and kept Dothraki up to the task. It was a necessary move as they only just made the win with a short neck the margin.
Aussie Come Sport was 1 3/4L ahead of Star Wars with Madame Fly fourth.
Before all the juvenile action was completed nation-wide on Saturday Dothraki was $41 into $12 to win the $2m Magic Millions feature.
The second place for Aussies Love Sport was costly as the well-bred colt will most likely not gain a start in the race with only $16,750 in prizemoney. He was into $9 to win the race but eased to $26 after the placing.
Clevadude is now joint $3.80 favourite with Assail following its win at Moonee Valley on Saturday after being $5 prior to the win and $51 a fortnight ago.
“I am not sure if he is good enough to go up there and be competitive,” said Ryan.
“This is his first preparation. He was broken in and had a month off and he has been in work ever since and we will let him tell us like we did in the last week coming into today.
“I said to Michael Ward last night that he would have to win pretty good today. You would have to look at the sectionals, but he might be a nice horse to give a break to now and campaign towards races in Queensland.
“There are four nice races up there and it might be better to do the right thing for the horse to do that with him.
“He did get lost which is why we put winkers on him to make him concentrate. But what he has shown at home he should come here and win that race pretty easy, so he might be getting to the end of his tether.
“We will just let him tell us in the next week."
"He was not sure what to do when he got there. He had a good look and he said to me that he did not realise that the Canterbury straight was so long,” joked Schofield.
“He was just looking to look around and do things really greenly again once he hit the straight. But he has a lot of upside this horse. He is definitely up to anything you can throw at him, ability wise I think his mind is just not quite there at the moment."