Femme still on Guineas outer despite win

Smart filly Femme Fireball’s Gold Coast win showed she is a genuine Magic Millions Guineas chance, but she will need to run again to confirm a start in the race for three-year-olds.

Femme Fireball ($5.50) came from near last to beat Francisca ($4.20) by a length with 1-1/4 lengths to Sussuri ($10) in third place in the Magic Millions 13 Jan Handicap (1200m).

The filly is strongly bred, being by former superstar galloper Pierro out of a Fastnet Rock mare and trainer Rob Heathcote believes she can live up to her bloodlines.

“That was her third win on end and three wins from four starts. Luke Nolen won on her at Doomben and he told me she might be something a bit,” Heathcote said.

“I am chasing the Magic Millions Guineas with her but even after today’s win she only has $61,200 in prize money.”

While the up and coming Magic Millions horses were on show it was a former glamour girl in Criquette who scored an emotional win.

Criquette ($5) won the Ubet Calcutta but there were once far greater things in mind for her.

She won her first start in October 2015 and was immediately installed favourite for that season’s Magic Millions Classic.

But injuries have strangled her career with a suspensory problem and then a hairline fracture in a tibia bone keeping her in the paddock.

Trainer Kelso Wood and his training partner Patricia Gesler have taken a softly, softly approach with Criquette.