Paul Snowden has said his fillies could defeat 2-year-old Gold Coast Magic Millions favorite Coolangatta next Saturday as Snowden’s powerful training operation doubled his arsenal in the rich race.
Already with Russian Conquest in the Magic Millions arena as the runner-up at $ 7, Snowden and her father Peter have called Miss Hellfire who won the Aquis Gold Pearl hard at the Gold Coast.
The TAB has promoted Miss Hellfire, who runs in the colors of the Triple Crown, to have a $ 15 chance in next Saturday’s big dance and that means the Snowdens have two of the best four chances as they look to lower boom colors Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace filly Coolangatta ($ 1.70).
“The favorite is definitely beatable and that will also depend on the barrier draws and the race lineup,†said Snowden.
“We now have two very beautiful fillies qualified for the race.
“Miss Hellfire has the attitude and the tenacity and the way she traveled, she was a little above herself.
“So there are some good signs for me that are telling me that she is going to go back well next week and that is why we have targeted this race today.
“Russian Conquest has a bit of class as this filly (Miss Hellfire) improves very quickly.
“The 1200 (m) next week will not be a drama for Miss Hellfire and wet or dry there will be no drama.
“I’m really looking forward to supporting her next week, she has more in the tank and that’s for sure.”
A professional performance by Miss Hellfire sees her winning Race 4 in @GCTurfClub for @ SnowdenRacing1 and @ BenThompson2102! pic.twitter.com/PU2E7qafd8
– SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 8, 2022
Miss Hellfire was sent for $ 4.80 in the Aquis Gold Pearl and the Snowdens always knew she would be a big improvement over the Wyong 2YO Classic where she finished second but was pushed back to the lower end of the track that day.
Meanwhile, larrikin Queensland coach Les Ross enjoyed a magical moment and training highlight when he qualified his third runner for next Saturday’s Magic Millions.
Ross trains horses with the distinctive nickname “Mishani” for knockabout owner Mike Crooks and Mishani Spartan has now joined Mishani Warfare and Mishani Persuasion in the 2-year-old classic arena.
Mishani Spartan won her $ 51 debut at Ipswich on December 31, but showed it certainly wasn’t a fluke by going from last to first to win the Aquis Gold Nugget.
Mishani Spartan was sent $ 20 in the Nugget but is now a shorter prize to win next Saturday’s 2YO Classic (firming from $ 101 to $ 17 with TAB).
Mishani Spartan was dead last on the turn and produced a huge kick to get out of Race 3 at @GCTurfClub at huge odds! A victory for @lesrossracing and @blprebble ???? pic.twitter.com/wYM2NMycl2
– SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 8, 2022
“That gives us three horses in the Magic Millions, so be careful,†Ross warned.
“We were trying to get a few, so three is good.
“I hope it rains next week.
“I was told if I put blinders on this horse he would improve by ten lengths, I don’t know if he improved ten lengths but he certainly improved.
“It won’t hurt to run three times in a row because he has covered a lot of kilometers.”
Jockey Brett Prebble will ride Kiwi Bright Blue Sky in the Magic Millions but did a brilliant job to qualify Mishani Spartan for Ross.
“He showed really good finishing speed and I love that in a horse,†said Prebble.
“He doesn’t know what he’s doing and he’s doing it in the rough.
Mishani Spartan wins the Aquis Gold Nugget at the Gold Coast. Photo: Grant Peters – Runway photography
“He might not be ready for the Magic Millions, but they’re going to have fun with him in the future.”
Miss Hellfire ran almost a second faster to win the Pearl than Mishani Spartan did to win the Nugget.
Stupendo, a winner in his debut at Flemington for Danny O’Brien, placed well second at the Nugget and went from $ 26 to $ 17 in Magic Millions bets.
