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Gai Waterhouse will rely on first starter Burning Sails to carry her hopes of a fourth win in Thursday's $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions for two-year-olds.
Waterhouse, a great supporter of the Magic Millions sales/race concept, has dominated Wyong's 2YO feature since it was introduced in 2003 with three previous winners Pulsator (2005), She's Meaner (2007) and Brightexpectations (2009).
Waterhouse nominated three youngsters for this year's edition but settled on Fastnet Rock colt Burning Sails after assessing their work at Randwick on Tuesday morning.
Stable jockey Nash Rawiller, successful for Waterhouse on Brightexpectations in 2009, will ride the colt.
Burning Sails, drawn barrier eight in a strong field of 10, will be chasing prizemoney to secure a start in the $2 million Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast on January 14.Waterhouse's youngsters are in great form this season with Burning Sails showing he had a bright future when he won a 900m barrier trial at Rosehill on December 6 with Rawiller aboard.
The Wyong Magic Millions has benefited from a later time slot and increase in distance from 1000m to 1100m to make it a more relevant lead-up to the Gold Coast race, attracting an excellent field of local and interstate two-year-olds.
Adelaide winner Little Critter (Glyn Schofield) from the Tony McEvoy stable has drawn well in gate two with Dear Demi (Corey Brown) on his inside from the rails gate.
Highly regarded Newcastle speedster Hidden Wonder (Christian Reith), runner-up to Pierro in the Breeders Plate at Randwick in October, has drawn wide in nine with only the Queensland-trained Shamrock Slipper from the Liam Birchley stable on his outside.
Robert Thompson will ride Shamrock Slipper, a Jet Spur filly who finished second at the Sunshine Coast at her debut on December 9.
Brisbane's leading jockey Chris Munce is making a special trip to Wyong to ride exciting first starter Hoffenhorry for Rosehill trainer Greg McFarlane.
By international Group One winner Haradasun, Hoffenhorry made a big impact when he won a Rosehill trial over 900m by eight lengths on December 6, running more than a second faster than Burning Sails on the same day.