Punters were left reeling when Flying Jess swept home at $101 to land Saturday’s $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast with the odds-on favourite Winning Rupert missing a place.
Flying Jess came late to win the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas. Photo: Darryl Sherer
Caulfield-based trainer John Moloney was one person on course unable to believe the starting price.
“Honestly, I don’t know what she started,” Moloney said. “Someone told me she was 100/1 and I couldn’t believe it. We just said we’d take our place and give her her chance.”
Flying Jess was settled midfield by Tye Angland to the home turn where Global Glamour had moved to the front with Winning Rupert drawing alongside to challenge.
Global Glamour ($8.50) went clear 200m out as Winning Rupert began to weaken and looked the winner until Flying Jess ($101) arrived wide and late to get up in the final strides and score by a neck with Eckstein ($12) a neck away third.
The daughter of Hinchinbrook was winning for the second time in 12 starts and Moloney said the filly had thrived since leaving Melbourne.
“She’s just been a work in progress and has grown since she’s travelled,” Moloney said.
“Her run in Sydney was ok and back to the 1400 (metres) today with a top gate and a top ride and she’s in the finish.
“This filly has not turned a hair since she turned up here, she wasn’t even sweating out the back before the race.”
Winning Rupert started the $1.65 favourite and was beaten two lengths into fourth. Jeff Lloyd said he was travelling well at the home turn.
“I was very confident turning for home as she (Global Glamour) had done all the work. I thought he would go whoosh but there maybe has to be a doubt about him at the 1400 (m) at this stage.” Lloyd said.
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