Magic Millions Cup betting preview & strategy

The Magic Millions Cup will feature a full field of 15 runners with five emergencies accepting for the $1 million race over 1425m. The 2023 Magic Millions field is littered with Group and Listed race winners as well as the top weight, Vega One, who is trying to win his second in four years. The winner of the Magic Millions Cup will take home $585,000.

Magic Millions Cup odds

Online bookmakers have opened their market with the Desleigh Forster-trained Emerald Kingdom as their clear favourite at $4.50, followed by Annabel Neasham’s star sprinter, Holyfield, at $5.50. Chris Waller’s only runner in the race, Oscar Zulu, sits at $6.50 and the 2020 Magic Millions Cup winner, Vega One ($9), rounds out the runners under double figures.

Magic Millions Cup speedmap analysis

The speed map for the Magic Millions Cup should see the current race favourite Emerald Kingdom and Holyfield fight out the lead, with Emerald Kingdom likely to hold the lead from his middle draw. Oscar Zulu, Love Tap and Edison will look to push forward from decent middle to inside barriers to sit just behind the leaders, and the likes of Vega One, Superium, Vinco and King Of Hastings are expected to settle at the rear of the field, looking to run on home from the back.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2023 Magic Millions Cup.

Magic Millions Cup form

Tony Gollan will be attempting to win a record breaking third Magic Millions Cup this Saturday and it could be a very special win if Vega One can win the Cup for the second time in four years. His seven-year-old gelding won the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup and ran second in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap in 2021, before going out for a spell and returning in the Brisbane Winter Carnival in 2022. When he returned in the Group 2 Victory Stakes and Group 1 Doomben 10,000, he finished second-last and last in those two races, showing that 1200m is a bit short of his best distance later in his career. Therefore, this son of Lope De Vega running seventh when working home nicely from the back of the field in the Listed Falvelon last start on Christmas Eve at Doomben over 1200m, was a great sign, especially when he was carrying 61kg and giving his nearest rival 2.5kg. After a solid return to racing, he looks to hit the 1425m of the Magic Millions Cup at the perfect time in this preparation and if Jamie Kah can recreate her ride from the Kingston Smith Cup in 2021, he will be very hard to beat.

The current race favourite Emerald Kingdom has found some form over the last couple of months rattling off three wins in his last five starts for his new trainer Desleigh Forster. The last two races this eight-year-old gelding has won were the Listed Tattersalls Recognition Stakes and The Buffering over 1350m, where he led from barrier to winning post both times. This son of Bryannbo’s Gift keeps drawing favourable barriers and with eight on Saturday, the run of luck continues, meaning he should be able to hold out the rest of the leading contenders and bowl along out in front like he loves to do. If no one pressures and they let him get away with some cheap splits, he could easily run away from them in the final 300m and win again.

Chris Waller has four runners in the 2023 Magic Millions Cup and we believe that Oscar Zulu is the best of his contingent, first-up over a distance that he loves. This son of Epaulette has a very impressive first-up record, with four wins from six starts, including a win in the $200,000 Goulburn Cup first-up last preparation. This five-year-old gelding may not have the Listed wins and form of the top few in the market, however, he will get the run of the race just off the speed from barrier one and if he gets a bit of luck in the final 200m, he will be letting rip with that blistering turn of foot that he possesses.

Barry Lockwood has accepted with Petronius in the Magic Millions Cup on Saturday, but has come up as the first emergency for the race. This six-year-old gelding is right in the middle of a purple patch in his career, winning two of his last three starts, with his only defeat coming to the very smart Ucalledit two starts back at Doomben. Obviously this gelding will need a scratching to get into the field, however, there are a few dual acceptors in this race so we could see a couple come Saturday morning, which would give this knockout hope a chance to run in the $1 million race.

2023 Magic Millions Cup tip & best bets

• 1

  VEGA ONE

• 2

  EMERALD KINGDOM

• 5

  OSCAR ZULU

• 16

  PETRONIUS

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