Red hot favourite and undefeated filly Coolangatta made it three in a row in Saturday’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic thanks to another brilliant ride from James McDonald.
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s lightly raced two-year-old went around as the $1.90 favourite with Ladbrokes bookmakers, but a win in the feature didn’t come easy when they found themselves three-wide rounding the turn.
With plenty of pace in the race, the daughter of Written Tycoon looked to have the race won and done when she drew clear at the 200m mark, right before Russian Conquest posed a late challenge right through to the line.
McDonald may have gone a little early at the top of the straight, but her exciting turn of foot still proved too much against a quality field of sprinters.
“She’s a special filly,” McDonald told Sky Racing after the race.
“It was great to ride such a dominant favourite with big expectations, and I was glad to be able to get her last ride. She’s got a great turn of foot on the ground, and she does the rest. I’ve ridden some great two-year-olds, but she’s definitely up there.”
Coolangatta put the writing on the wall on debut at Randwick last October when she gapped her rivals by nearly 3.5L in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes.
She then backed that performance up with another dazzling display first-up in the BJ McLachlan at Doomben on Boxing Day to become the rightful favourite heading into Saturday’s $2 million feature.
Previously undefeated filly Russian Conquest lost no admirers with a bursting run in the late stages to grab second, while Gary Portelli’s maidener Snitcat was the surprise third place-getter paying $6.50.
The complete 2022 Magic Millions 2YO Classic finishing order can be viewed here.
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