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By Gary Harley

The Magic Millions Raceday at Wyong each year provides one of the great days of racing on the provincial circuit. On Wednesday, Wyong Race Club will host its 21st Magic Millions day with the $200,000 Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic (1100m) and $150,000 Magic Millions Wyong 3YO and 4YO Stakes (1200m) the highlights of the seven-race program.

Both races have great history with two smart two-year-olds on the racetrack, but superstars at stud Not A Single Doubt and Snitzel won the inaugural 2yo Wyong Classics in 2003 and 2004. The pair were placed in the Gold Coast 2YO Magic Millions a month later.

Gai Waterhouse has targeted the Wyong Classic each year and has trained five of these winners, three in her own right (2005 Pulsator, 2008 She’s Meaner and 2009 Bright Expectations) and two in partnership with Adrian Bott and they were Unite and Conquer in 2018 and subsequent Golden Slipper winner Farnan in 2019.

On Wednesday the Waterhouse-Bott stable will be represented by Toque ($3.40 on TAB) a Street Boss filly on debut after two smart trial wins in November. Regan Bayliss rode the filly in both trials at Warwick Farm and Randwick, however, Tim Clark has the mount on Wednesday.

Clark was aboard Farnan when he was successful. In the Warwick Farm trial on November 6 Toque wasn’t fast away but quickly led and bolted in by two lengths. At Randwick on November 28 Toque jumped in first and sat three-wide in the centre of the track before being ridden out hands and heels. Clark told yours truly she is pretty quick: “She is a very fast filly, has drawn nice and has trialled really well.”

Spywire from the Maher and Eustace stable is $1.65 TAB favourite in early markets and obviously will be hard to beat. A Trapeze Artist colt, Spywire bolted in with a Rosehill midweek 2yo Maiden on debut on November 15. He led all the way for Tyler Schiller and he retains the ride and Spywire was an acceptor in Brisbane last Saturday but was scratched.

Highness ($7) has had the one start when beaten 1.82 lengths in the Breeders' Plate in September and Tommy Berry went to Newcastle to trial the colt on November 30 and he was never out of second gear to win the trial.

The Maher-Eustace stable have a great chance of success in both the Magic Millions races on Wednesday as Spywire is odds-on in the 2YO Classic and the stable prepares the two favourites Royal Merchant ($1.80) and Semana ($4.60) in the 3 & 4YO Stakes.

Royal Merchant is a class above the opposition on her best form and would probably be shorter if the mare had drawn more positive. In May she won the Group 1-Goodwood in Adelaide and her recent form is good enough.

Second-up Royal Merchant was beaten two lengths by Espiona in the $2m The Invitation at Randwick on October 28. The mare finished fourth in the Hot Danish last start before a brilliant Newcastle trial win on November 30. Stablemate Semana has won five from 12 with four placings and is first-up after two trials.

The Godolphin-James Cummings colt Fleetwood ($7.50) is lightly raced with a good record and draws well. The promising Wyong 3yo Bojangles ($2.40 fav) has to overcome a wide barrier to win the final event the PBL Law Group Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m) but he is good enough. Tommy Berry put a huge rap on Bojangles after he rode him to victory first-up on this track on November 29.

RACE 1, STAINLESS FX MAIDEN HANDICAP, 1350m: Figment ($3.80 on TAB) is fitter after two placings at Scone and the Beaumont Track in her two runs this prep and this is a winnable race. She races on the speed and has drawn okay and Tim Clark has the mount. Discover ($4) is first-up but capable of running well here. All Too Hard filly Spiacente ($10) should be further improved for this.
SELECTIONS: 8 FIGMENT, 2 DISCOVER, 12 SPIACENTE

RACE 2, PRIDE EXCAVATIONS BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP, 2100m: Youthfull ($3.60) went to the line hard held at Hawkesbury when beaten 2.6 lengths on December 3. She had a lovely run behind the leaders but could not obtain clear running in the straight. The mare has had two starts at Wyong for a win and a second and she loves this trip. Aunt Roberta ($4.20) loves this track and distance where she has had three starts for two wins and a third. Scarlet Prince ($2.20 fav) was narrowly beaten on the Kensington track last start and he will be fitter third-up.
SELECTIONS: 4 YOUTHFULL, 2 AUNT ROBERTA, 1 SCARLET PRINCE

RACE 3, GOLD COAST YEARLING SALE 3-16 JAN BENCHMARK 64, 1600m: Silent Russian ($4.80) was only beaten a length in a strong race at Newcastle recently. He is very consistent with a win and three placings from five starts. He should race on the speed and his second-up record is okay. Mistress ($4.60) ran on well when placed at Newcastle last start first-up and the 1600m is her trip. Heika ($7) did not appreciate the heavy track when a failure at Gosford recently and he will improve on this track.
SELECTIONS: 7 SILENT RUSSIAN, 6 MISTRESS, 1 HEIKA

RACE 4, MAGIC MILLIONS WYONG 3 & 4YO STAKES, 1200m: Royal Merchant ($1.80 fav) is a class above on her best form and she trialled brilliantly at Newcastle recently. She won the Group 1-Goodwood in Adelaide in May and she has had three runs in top company this prep. She was only beaten 2 lengths by Espiona in October in the Gr 2-Hot Danish. Stablemate Semana ($4.60) has good form in the city and has had two recent barrier trials. Fleetwood ($7.50) is up in class but has a good city record.
SELECTIONS: 6 ROYAL MERCHANT, 7 SEMANA, 9 FLEETWOOD

RACE 5, WYONG LEAGUES GROUP BENCHMARK 68, 1300m: Annulus ($4.80) was very impressive in a strong finishing win at Newcastle on December 2. This is a similar field but he has the same apprentice Anna Roper aboard. He carries 3kg more weight but he will be at the top after three runs this prep. The Empire ($5) was runner-up behind Annulus at Newcastle and he can race on the pace. Big Happiness ($5) can improve but needs some give in the track.
SELECTIONS: 3 ANNULUS, 5 THE EMPIRE, 4 BIG HAPINESS

RACE 6, MAGIC MILLIONS WYONG 2YO CLASSIC, 1100m: Toque ($3.40) is a very fast filly on debut and she is undefeated in two trials. She won a Warwick Farm trial by 7 lengths on November 8 then she raced way off the track to win a Randwick trial on November 28. Her rider tim Clark has won a 2YO Magic Millions and she has a lovely barrier. Spywire ($1.65 fav) was very impressive in his only start when he bolted in at Rosehill and he will be hard to beat. Highness ($7) has to be considered as he wasn’t far away in the Breeders' Plate and trialled very well at Newcastle recently.
SELECTIONS: 8 TOQUE, 4 SPYWIRE, 2 HIGHNESS

RACE 7, PBL LAW GROUP BENCHMARK 64, 1100m: Despite the wide draw Bojangles ($2.40 fav) is the best of the day. He was never extended to easily win a Wyong Maiden first-up recently. Tommy Berry placed a rap on Bojangles following the race and he rides again. Smiling Prophet ($4) won well on this track last start and gets back and runs on. The Extreme Cat ($9.50) bolted in against weaker company at Coffs Harbour last start.
SELECTIONS: 8 BOJANGLES, 4 SMILING PROPHET, 7 THE EXTREME CAT

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Wyong here