2YO Classic favourites ease on ordinary draws
09 January 2018
A difficult draw has seen Magic Millions 2YO Classic fancies Ef Troop (18) and Sunlight (15) ease in betting for the $2-million feature at the Gold Coast this Saturday.
But veteran bookmaker Gerard Daffy from UBET believes both runners will almost certainly end up back where they were pre-draw, such is their popularity with punters.
Ef Troop, who according to trainer Tony Gollan was going to go forward regardless of which alley he came up with, was $3.40 out to $4.00 when he scored barrier 18, while Sunlight, an impressive winner at Doomben over the weekend, was $4.20 out to $4.40 on barrier 15.
“Looking at the bets before the draw, the only two they wanted were Ef Troop and Sunlight and, even though neither is drawn ideally, I can see a scenario where both get back to their original prices,” said Daffy.
“We saw it with Houtzen last year – she drifted initially on her carpark draw then was backed for an absolute stack on the day and she duly obliterated them,” he said.
Newcastle raider Jonker was the big winner and the major post-draw market mover, trimming up from $5.00 to 4.50 on the back of barrier 3. Nomothaj ($13 into $10 on barrier 2) and Meryl (18 into $16 on barrier 5) were also notable firmers.
Pierata, meanwhile, remains a white hot top pick for the other feature, the $2-million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, after snaring gate one.
“Barrier 1 might not actually be the best for him, but, no matter where he drew, he was never going to be displaced as favourite – he’s a jet,” said Daffy.
“He was already a horror result for us and I reckon it’ll probably get worse now because I can guarantee you the general public will want to be on him.”
Latest markets for the Classic and Guineas can be found here.
Ef Troop $4.00 (out from $3.40)
Sunlight $4.40 (out from $4.20)
Jonker $4.50 (in from $5.00)
Nomothaj $10 (in from $13)
Meryl $16 (In from $18)
Others $17+
Pierata $2.50
Sasso Corbaro $6.00 (out from $5.50)
Goodfella $10 (in from $11)
Wild Heart $10 (in from$12)
Calculated $11 (out from $9.00)
Others $16+
