Saturday's Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas appears an open betting affair, with the top three choices currently sitting between 4-1 and 7-1. Early favorite Mahuta (Aus) (Flying Spur {Aus}) has maintained favoritism despite drawing poorly in barrier 20, so the Darren Weir charge will have his work cut out for him to maintain the win streak he extended to four in the Nov. 14 G2 Sandown Guineas. Egyptian Symbol (Aus) (Stratum {Aus}), on the board in all five starts, tightened in the betting after drawing well in gate six. The filly, who gets seven pounds from Mahuta, went three straight earlier this year but must rebound from turnovers when second at Wyong Dec. 17 and when third in the G3 Vo Rogue Plate over this surface Dec. 26.
Besting Egyptian Symbol at Wyong was Flippant (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}), who prepared for this with a Randwick trial win Dec. 29. The filly had won back-to-back starts over the winter before finishing last of nine off a layoff at Randwick Oct. 17 and so rebounded well at Wyong, but she will not be helped by barrier 19 Saturday. Drawn even worse but still prominent in the betting at 10-1 is Sir Bacchus (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}). That gelding broke his maiden at Canterbury Dec. 11 and made it two straight in a Randwick benchmark 70 handicap for champion trainer Chris Waller Dec. 26.
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