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The strength of Gai Waterhouse's juvenile team this season was further emphasised when Driefontein and No Looking Back ran the quinella in the lucrative Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast last Saturday.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The final result of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) was decided in controversial circumstances with Driefontein eventually being declared the winner after a protest by her rider Tommy Berry was upheld against stablemate No Looking Back.
It was an enthralling battle between the pair as Driefontein was sent immediately to the front while Nash Rawiller positioned No Looking Back just behind the Fastnet Rock filly.
Upon straightening it wasn't long until the pair were going stride for stride with No Looking Back getting the upper hand over the concluding stages to win by a neck on the line.
Subsequent analysis of race footage showed No Looking Back had shifted out onto Driefontein preventing Berry from fully extending his mount over the final 100m.
The protest was upheld meaning Driefontein kept her unbeaten record intact from three starts while Tommy Berry claimed back to back Magic Millions 2YO Classic successes.
In recording the victory, Driefontein yielded a new peak Timeform figure of 115, marginally below the five year winning average for the event.
Driefontein continues the dominance of fillies in Magic Millions Classic during the past decade with Phelan Ready the only male to win the event during the period between 2006 and 2012.
Karuta Queen, Military Rose, Augusta Proud, Mimi Lebrock and Mirror Mirror have all flown the flag for the fairer sex in the lucrative juvenile feature.
Furthermore, fillies for the last three years have run the trifecta in the event.
Driefontein's latest success also accentuates a few other trends the Magic Millions 2YO Classic possesses.
The last three winners of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic have been favourites and have each led throughout to claim the feature event.
A look into the history of the event since 1994 shows favourites have won seven times and been placed an additional seven times.
The last of four favourites not to figure in the finish since 1994 was Espurante in 2007.
Eight winners during the last 18 years have made all to claim a Magic Millions 2YO Classic success. Another three winners have been up near the speed in second or third with the remaining seven all coming from fourth or further back on the home turn.
Driefontein will now be given a freshen up after her latest success prior to a tilt at the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill in April.
The last horse to claim the Magic Millions – Golden Slipper double was Phelan Ready while Gai Waterhouse has previously achieved the feat with Dance Hero in 2004.
At around the midway point of the 2011/2012 season, the team of juveniles Gai Waterhouse possesses in the lead up to the Group 1 Blue Diamond at Caulfield and the Group 1 Golden Slipper is quite impressive.
Driefontein based on current Timeform ratings now heads the Gai Waterhouse attack with a peak career figure of 115.
Running to a figure of 107 during her debut at Warwick Farm back in November, No Looking Back improved seven pounds to a figure of 114 when second on the weekend.
She will now be directed towards her next goal of the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes(1200m) with stable connections of the belief she will be more comfortable on her Melbourne leg.
Another Blue Diamond Stakes bound Waterhouse juvenile is Raceway who caught the eye when running to 114 during his race debut also at Warwick Farm on January 7.
Any juvenile who can record a Timeform figure of 114 at debut warrants respect and all eyes will no doubt be on the More Than Ready two-year-old when he races in the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) next month.
If Raceway continues rising to the tasks set for him, the Star Thoroughrbeds-raced gelding will be set on a campaign reminiscent of the path Sepoy took towards winning the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) last April in convincing fashion which yielded his equal peak Timeform rating at the time of 124.
In addition, the penny looks to have dropped for De Shamekh who also won on the weekend posting a figure of 109 in the process while you cannot forget Pierro [110] who Waterhouse dubbed the 2012 Slipper winner after he took out the Breeders Plate back in October.