Magic Millions race heats up - Betting Zone - Sportal Australia - Sportal.com.au

The build-up to the first major two-year-old race of the 2012/13 racing season - the $1.64 million Magic Millions (1200m) on the Gold Coast on January 12 - is well and truly under way with three crucial races to be run in Brisbane and Sydney on Saturday which will go a long way towards establishing the compilation of this year's final field.

And the horse to watch on Saturday is Queensland filly Miss Longstockings, who already looks assured of a start in the race and will run a short-priced favourite in the $100,000 Calaway Gal Stakes (1000m) at Eagle Farm.

That race is one of two races for the two-year-olds in Brisbane, plus another in Sydney, in which horses can force their way up the qualifying order to run in the rich Gold Coast event - which is restricted to horses bought at the Magic Millions sales.

A staggering 159 horses remain in contention for a start in the race but only the top 15 in prizemoney order will run in the event on January 12.

Miss Longstockings, trained by leading Brisbane trainer Liam Birchley, is currently No.11 in order of entry having won both her two starts so far easily - firstly by six lengths on debut at Toowoomba in October and then an impressive seven-length win in early November at Eagle Farm.

And at set weights and having been drawn perfectly in barrier five in the 12-horse field, Miss Longstockings looks money for jam and is the $1.60 favourite at Eskander's Betstar and $1.61 with Betfair.

Her only serious opposition is likely to come from two other Magic Millions contenders in the race in Greytfilly (No.13 in order of entry) and Global Dream (equal 23rd in order of entry with another runner in Saturday's race in Moroccan Rose).

Greytfilly, trained by Robert Heathcote, has a third and a win at Doomben to her credit from two starts to date and is value at around the $5.20 mark at Betfair.

Global Dream, trained by Tony Gollan, is second favourite at $4.10 with Betfair after running second on debut at Eagle Farm over 1000m on October 6 while Moroccan Rose ($16 at Betfair) looks the best of the rest but was seven lengths behind Miss Longstockings in running second to the boom filly last time out.

In the two-year-old race for colts and geldings at Eagle Farm on Saturday - the $100,000 listed Phelan Ready Stakes (1000m) - there are seven horses in the 11-strong field still in Magic Millions contention.

But this looks a much more even affair and therefore a better betting race than the Miss Longstockings dominated fillies event, with second favourite in the Gillian Heinrich trained Eliminator looking like the way to go.

Eliminator, currently No.30 in order of entry for the Magic Millions, won a maiden on debut at Gold Coast in in early November and with the experienced Jeff Lloyd in the saddle and well drawn in barrier eight can win again and force his way into the Magic Millions field.

The Choisir colt is second favourite for the race at $3.20 at TAB Sportsbet and Eskander's Betstar and $3.70 with Betfair with the favourite being Londehero at $2.25 at TAB Sportsbet and Betstar and $2.40 at Betfair.

Londehero ran second over 1000m on debut at Eagle Farm a fortnight ago but is not eligible for the Magic Millions.

These two should fight the race out ahead of El Tornado (No.39 in order of entry) at $7.40 at Betfair with a big watch on the Choisir colt Sir Luminar which is making his debut but is still in Magic Millions contention at odds of $6.80 at Betfair.

Sir Luminar is not only superbly bred but will be ridden by champion jockey Chris Munce and has drawn barrier one.

Meanwhile two unraced Magic Millions contenders in the Anthony Cummings trained Astronaut and the John O'Shea trained Passarli will need to win the $85,000 Rosehill Gardens Handicap (1100m) in Sydney on Saturday to force their way into contention for a start in the race.

But while Astronaut has had few early backers at $80 at Betfair, Passarli is well in contention at $10.50 and is fourth favourite for the race behind Let's Frolic at $2.62, Regimental Pride at $4.90 and the Peter Snowden trained first starter Howdah at $5.60.

*Note prices subject to change

Paul Gough's selections

Calaway Gal Stakes

1. Miss Longstockings

2. Greytfilly

3. Global Dream

Best roughie: Moroccan Rose

Phelan Ready Stakes

1. Eliminator

2. Londehero

3. El Tornado

Best roughie: Sir Luminar

Rosehill Gardens Handicap

1. Regimental Pride

2. Howdah

3. Let's Frolic

Best roughie: Passarli