Gai has respect for key rivals

GAI Waterhouse is more worried about rivals Dubious and Exhilarates than she is the wide barriers her duo Unite And Conquer and Czarson must overcome to give the trainer her fifth win in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast today.

“Dubious won the Breeders Plate (at Randwick) and that is a good two-year-olds race,’’ Waterhouse said.

“He’s a tough colt and he’s had the right preparation.

“Exhilarates was very good last week (at the Gold Coast) and I like those back-up horses.’’

Godolphin’s Exhilarates is the $4.80 favourite with Ladbrokes for the $2 million Magic Millions (1200m) ahead of unbeaten Dubious at $5.

Waterhouse, who trains in partnership with Adrian Bott, has two runners, the unbeaten colts Unite And Conquer ($5.50) and Czarson ($6.50).

Unite And Conquer had been the long-time Magic Millions favourite until he drew barrier 18 while stablemate Czarson didn’t fare much better with gate 15.

But Waterhouse is adamant she can add to her four wins in the glamour Gold Coast juvenile race after her successes with Assertive Lad (2000), Excellerator (2001), Dance Hero (2004) and Driefontein (2012).

“I never worry about barriers. I’ve won two Golden Slippers from wide barriers,’’ Waterhouse said.

“Unite And Conquer is a goforward horse, he’s got brilliant gate speed, and Czarson is very adaptable.

“Both colts are thriving on the Gold Coast.”

In what looks an open betting race, Ladbrokes reported yesterday that Dubious is responsible for 36 per cent of their total hold on the race.

Exhilarates is taking in a tick over 21 per cent – after being backed at odds as high as $41 pre-post – underlining how the pair have dominated the market this week. Unite And Conquer and Czarson are the next most popular. NATHAN EXELBY

BETTER Reflection will be the fairytale story of the Magic Millions race day if she can continue her unbeaten run in the 2YO Classic, particularly for one-time budding chef Nigel Seymour.

Rockhampton trainer John Wigginton paid just $20,000 for the filly, kept a share himself and syndicated the rest to 12 others.

They will all be on deck at the Gold Coast today as Better Reflection, a $16 chance with Ladbrokes, takes them on the ride of their lives.

For jockey Nigel Seymour, 42, it will be the highlight of a career that has taken several deviations. Seymour gave away riding for a time in April 2016.

“I had enough of being injured. It had been an ordinary five years leading up to that. I got a bit tired of getting hurt,” he said.

“I saw an ad on Gumtree that Moo Moos (steakhouse in Brisbane) was looking for an apprentice chef.”

He got the job but the hours took a toll.

“I was there for three or four months,” he said.

Seymour has ridden the unbeaten Better Reflection in both her wins, including the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes at Doomben.