EF Troop, Sunlight head Millions market

Ef Troop and Sunlight are the equal $4 favourites for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic following the declaration of the final field of 16 plus four emergencies.

Newcastle speedster and former favourite Jonker is at $4.50 with the TAB and the only other runner under double figures ahead of Tuesday’s barrier draw.

Both the Tony McEvoy-trained Sunlight and the David Atkins-trained Jonker were $26 in original markets on Saturday’s $2 million race at the Gold Coast.

EF Troop, from the Tony Gollan stable, opened at $15 while the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Bondi is now at $13 after being as short as $8.

Nomothaj, who won the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes in October in which Sunlight was third on debut as favourite, is also at $13.

The Lindsay Park-trained filly has not raced since but has had two barrier trials in Sydney.

“She trialled really well last Friday week. We put the blinkers on her and she won the trial quite convincingly,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said.

“The blinkers seemed to really wake her up.

“She’s been set her for that race and it just leaves the option open to run in some of the nicer races later in the autumn.”

Pierata remains the favourite for the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) at $2.50 for trainer Greg Hickman and jockey Corey Brown.

The colt further cemented his claims with victory in the Group Three Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at his most recent start.

The Kris Lees-trained Sasso Corbaro ($5),a last-start Randwick winner, and Calculated from the Chris Waller stable ($9) are the only two other runners in single figures.

Barrier draws for the two rich races will be conducted on Tuesday morning.