Horse Racing / Paul Bugeja / 14 January 2012 / Leave a comment Free Bet View Market

Exciting youngster Driefontein is the horse Gary Crispe of 'racingandsports' feels is likely to bring up a huge payday for connections in today's feature race on the Gold Coast, the $2million BMW Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

The Gold Coast Turf Club plays host to the rich Magic Millions day today with literally millions of dollars on offer across the card, the juvenile 1200m race alone offering $1.14 million to the winner.

Driefontein, prepared by Gai Waterhouse, races in the Star Thoroughbred colour and was a Magic Millions weanling but failed to reach the reserve. But as a juvenile, Waterhouse must have felt the Fastnet Rock filly had filled out enough to take a chance and she went to $75,000.

That now seems a bargain, having won both her runs to date and already banked $158,000, but the possibly of much much more today.

The filly made her debut over 1000m at Randwick, and after racing on the speed and wide she cruised away with a three-length win. Waterhouse put her away for a let-up before she reappeared in the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes over 1200m at Doomben. Taking up the running, the filly was always in control and dashed home to score by 1.5 lengths over Sizzling, which looks a main rival again today.

Driefontein has drawn perfectly in barrier three for regular rider Tommy Berry and can only be further improved and fitter again. She opened favourite in markets this week and has been well supported since. Predictive figures have her on top and she looks clearly the horse who will be hardest to get past.

Queensland colt Sizzling has done little wrong in three runs to date and looms as the biggest danger.

The Snitzel colt, a $260,000 yearling prepared by Kelso Wood, made his debut on his home track of Eagle Farm with a most impressive six length-win, sitting third before cruising away. He then ran in the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes there and after sitting mid-field ground home to finish runner-up, beaten a head but looking likely to appreciate more ground, which he did last time in the McLachlan Stakes over 1200m last start at Doomben.

Drawing wide he went back to near last but ate up the ground late to finish runner-up to Driefontein. The winner controlled the race and won it from the front but Sizzling's run was excellent after getting back from a poor draw. Today he has drawn much better and will be further improved.He should be hard to hold out.

The unbeaten Amorino rates next best on his two wins to date.

The Gerald Ryan trained-colt, another by Snitzel, won the Victory Vein Stakes over 1000m at Randwick on debut, cruising away to win by 2.5 lengths. He then tackled 1100m at Rosehill after a break, and after soaking up plenty of pressure shrugged off the challengers and again drew clear. He will be fitter and with an easier run from a good gate should be putting himself into the race at the right time.

That trio rate a clear margin ahead of their rivals and this year's race might be that simple.

No Looking Back, stablemate to Driefontein, was a strong on-pace winner on debut and can only be further improved. The filly rates next best outside the top trio.

GARY'S TOP PICKS FOR RACE 5@GOLD COAST
(1) Driefontein
(2) Sizzling
(3) Amorino