The well bred daughter of Danehill was fancied today after an eye catching first up run in the recent Aurie's Star Handicap, a race won by the gelding whom she gunned down today, Fields of Omagh.

Cummings, who is chasing his twelfth Melbourne Cup this spring, was suitably impressed with the performance.

"She might have looked like a tank, but she ran like a Mercedes," Cummings said moments after the win.

"It was a good first up run and I thought she was a strong each way chance today," he added.

Magical Miss got back among the rear of the field before being switched to the middle of the track by her rider Steven Arnold.

Only moments after Fields of Omagh had hit the front from the early leader Dash for Cash, the Cups favourite swept up on the outside before drawing clear for a comprehensive three quarter length win.

Magical Miss, who is owned by Perth based Bill and Rhonda Wyllie, has now firmed in markets for all three feature spring races.

Leading Melbourne bookmaker Michael Eskander has tightened Magical Miss into equal favourite for the Melbourne Cup at 7/1 (in from 9s), while she is an outright fancy for the Caulfield Cup at 5/1 (from 7s) ahead of Republic Lass (7/1). Her Cox Plate quote was slashed from 33/1 to 20/1.

"We have to now make a decision whether we go to the Cox Plate or the Caulfield Cup," Cummings said.

The favourite Northerly sat just off the pace and looked well and truly under pressure when approaching the turn. But connections would have to have been impressed with the fighting finish of the reigning Cox Plate champion, who battled on to finish fourth, only 1.8 lengths from the winner.

PICS - Quentin Lang.

fShare

Tweet