Whypeeo uncertain to start

WHYPEEO is not a certain starter in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas with Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds to also accept with the gelding in the Magic Millions Snippets.

The field for the Guineas (1400m), as well as the 2YO Classic, were finalised yesterday with all other acceptances for Saturday’s Gold Coast showpiece meeting to be declared today.

Edmonds told Queensland stewards of his intentions after Whypeeo drew barrier 16 of 18 in the Guineas.

He will make a final decision by this afternoon.

If Edmonds decides to run Whypeeo in the Snippets (1200m), stablemate I Am Impinge will gain a start in the Guineas as first emergency.

Stewards said Jeff Lloyd would ride I Am Impinge if he got a Guineas start, leaving Matt Dunn to find a rider for Arrestar.

Whypeeo, who has won four of his seven starts, is part of a quality string of three year-olds trained by Edmonds.

They include Houtzen, the 2017 Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner, and Eptimum.

Houtzen and Eptimum both won Group 3 races in the Melbourne in the spring.

Sydney colt Pierata continues to dominate the market for the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas after drawing barrier one yesterday.

Trained at Warwick Farm by Greg Hickman, Pierata is at $2.50 with UBET to win Saturday’s race with the Kris Leestrained Sasso Corbaro, who drew 14, the only other runner under double figures at $6.

If he wins the Guineas, Pierata will also earn a $500,000 bonus for claiming three of five designated races during the Queensland summer carnival.

Top South Australian jockey Jamie Kah has picked up the ride on the Sunshine Coast-trained Magnufighter in the Guineas.

Magnufighter, a $35 chance, won successive races at Doomben in November and December.

Kah rode him when he finished fifth to Pierata in the Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at the same track on December 30.