Madeenaty ready for Wyong Magic Millions

Jockey Mark Zahra has no concerns about Madeenaty handling the clockwise way of racing when she bids to confirm her favouritism for the Magic Millions Classic in a key lead-up race at Wyong.

Victorian-based Madeenaty makes her interstate debut in Thursday’s $200,000 Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic (1100m) in NSW ahead of the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast on January 14 for which she is the early favourite.

Zahra has ridden Madeenaty in both her Melbourne starts down the straight at Flemington for a dominant debut win in the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes and a third placing during the Melbourne Cup carnival.

He expects her to be the one to beat at Wyong.

“I have been to Euroa to ride her in two bits of work and she’s going great,” Zahra said.

“She had a jump-out last Wednesday going the opposite way and she went great. She’s a natural that way, so I think she’ll be very hard to beat there (at Wyong).”

Madeenaty finished third to Invincible Star in her second start but she was easily the first horse home of those who came down the rail side, with the first two placegetters on the outside.

“I really liked her leading up to her first run because I had done a bit of work on her,” Zahra said.

“She did what I expected and then I think you just have to forgive the second one. She had a low draw on the wrong side of the track and she beat the inside horses by like six lengths.

“She’s just got a stride of a good horse and has always impressed me.”

Zahra will ride Madeenaty at 54.5kg at Wyong which is lighter than normal.

“You’ve got to do that to get the ride in the Millions,” he said.

Madeenaty’s co-trainers David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig will also have Dam Ready in Thursday’s Magic Millions Wyong 3&4YO Stakes.