This time last year, Adrian Bott was gearing up for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a hot favourite.
Bott was co-trainer of Storm Boy, who confirmed his status as the star juvenile to that point of the season with a dominant win in the $3 million race on the Gold Coast.
Unfortunately for Bott and his training partner, Gai Waterhouse, they don’t have Storm Boy mark II in their care this year, but will be represented in this year’s 2YO Magic Millions Classic by The Playwright.
The daughter of Written By is a $16 chance with betting sites but, fortunately for connections, does not appear to have a horse of Storm Boy’s quality to contend with, which has Bott optimistic.
“I think it’s very fair that the race is open and I think she’s got some good form around those right horses as well, ones that are well fancied in the market,” he said.
“She may be a little bit under the radar in that regard, but she’s ticked the right boxes.
“She’s been through the right races, which looks to be a nice formula and proven strategy to get her here, so I expect her to run well.”
The Playwright, a $60,000 Gold Coast yearling, defeated Icarian Dream at Rosehill on November 30 on debut and finished third to that filly, beaten just over 1-1/2 lengths, in the Group 3 B J McLachlan Stakes (1200m), on December 21.
Icarian Dream shot to Magic Millions Classic favouritism after that race but was displaced from the top line of betting after drawing the outside barrier on Tuesday morning.
The Playwright came up with barrier eight, which further heightened Bott’s optimism.
“She’s drawn very well, I think barrier eight is a great spot for her, she’s had the run up here, she’s had the time to settle in an acclimatise and she looks to be doing very well,” Bott said.
“She just puts herself in the race, we’ll probably look to utilise the speed she’s got, and I think the track will suit her here.”
Regan Bayliss was aboard for The Playwright’s first two starts but Blake Shinn, who won the 2016 Magic Millions aboard Capitalist, will be sporting the Tricolours Racing colours aboard her on Saturday.
