GUN DUO SQUARE OFF IN GUINEAS

DYNAMIC duo Hell I Am and Shalailed are every chance of fighting out the finish again in Wednesday‘s Listed Gosford Guineas (1200m) as they look to take another important step towards the lucrative Magic Millions next month.

Hell I Am is the $2.40 favourite for the Gosford Guineas while Shalailed is the $4.60 third pick at Gosford with

the classy Russian Conquest ($3.40) splitting the pair. Trainer John O‘Shea, who is overseas, has both horses on a path the $2m Magic Millions 3YO Guineas on the Gold Coast next month but hopes to tick off another feature race on the way.

Hell I Am returned in stellar order earlier this month when beating his stablemate in awesome fashion in the Magic Millions Wyong 3YO&4YO Stakes back on December 14.

“Hell I Am is putting together a good little record,” assistant trainer Tom Charlton said.

“He was a pretty immature horse in the early stages of his life and with time and confidence he seems to be developing into a really nice horse.

“This is obviously his second up run ahead of his main assignment in the Guineas on the Gold Coast and he has drawn to get a nice run and we would expect a good showing from him.”

Hell I Am‘s Wyong display saw him surge into equal favouritism with TAB for January’s $2m Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, where he now sits at $6 alongside Russian Conquest while Shalailed is a $26 contender.

Shalailed toughed it up on speed when also first up in the Wyong Magic Millions and the stable expects the smart colt will derive improvement from the run. “He was good behind Hell I Am,” Charlton said.