Assail new Magic Millions favourite

Thursday 20 December 2012, 5:49pm

Peter Robl was left in no doubt about the Magic Millions Classic credentials of Assail after the speedy filly spaced her rivals in a crucial lead-up race at Wyong on Thursday.

The Clarry Conners-trained filly raced away with the $200,000 Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic (1100m) by three lengths, launching her into outright favouritism for the $2 million feature at the Gold Coast on January 12.

"She'll win the Magic Millions," Robl declared.

Assail ($5.50) drew wide but showed great speed to cross and assume the lead before opening up a big break around the home turn.

She went on with the job in the straight as Frill Seeking ($20) led home the chasing pack, with three-quarters of a length to Dream Forward ($17) third.

Assail's impressive performance prompted the TAB to make her the $4.50 Magic Millions favourite after she was $14 before Thursday's race.

"Brilliant, that's all I can say," Robl said of Assail's win.

"She showed blistering speed to get there in the lead, she relaxed in the middle stages and then she put six lengths on them."

Robl had been upbeat about Assail's prospects since her recent barrier trial win at Warwick Farm and helped convince Conners to run her at Wyong.

Conners is a master trainer of two-year-olds having won the Golden Slipper four times and he also won the Magic Millions Classic with Mirror Mirror in 2006.

"I was thinking of not running her today because of the wide barrier but Peter said 'run her because she'll still win'," Conners said.

Conners believes the filly, who is unbeaten in two starts, still has improvement in her.

"She's raw this filly. She's had two trials and two starts, she hasn't done much at all," Conners said.

"I was asked the other day to compare her to Mirror Mirror that won the Magic Millions and she's a better horse than Mirror Mirror."

Trainer Matthew Smith was also encouraged by the run of runner-up Frill Seeking who will also head to the Gold Coast.

"I'm very happy with that and I think 1200 metres will suit her," Smith said.

Favourite Dothraki ($3.10) finished fifth with Certitude ($3.50) fourth.

– AAP

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