Clarry & Rick ready for 2YO Magic Millions showdown

MASTER trainers of juveniles Clarry Conners and Rick Hore-Lacy have the unbeaten favourites Assail and Clevadude ready for their clash in Saturday's Magic Millions Classic on the Gold Coast, reports The Age.It says: Conners admitted he had not seen Clevadude's two wins, which have him $3 equal favourite for the $2 million sprint, after watching Assail finish her Millions preparation with a rousing gallop between races at Warwick Farm on Saturday."I don't have to do anything more with her no

It says: Conners admitted he had not seen Clevadude's two wins, which have him $3 equal favourite for the $2 million sprint, after watching Assail finish her Millions preparation with a rousing gallop between races at Warwick Farm on Saturday.

"I don't have to do anything more with her now," Conners said. "I was very happy with that, I think she worked nice. She is only a fragile little thing; as you can see there is not a lot of her. [The way she worked] is the sort of horse she is, it was just beautiful and she did everything right.

"She probably needed that because it has been 16 days since the win at Wyong. That's why we decided to come here between races, to get her adrenalin going."
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Hore-Lacy opted for a morning workout for Clevadude at Caulfield on Saturday. He was able to work him the Brisbane way of going, and the son of Bel Esprit handled it perfectly.

''I was very happy, he worked over 1000 metres going the [Brisbane] way on a pretty tight track, and he never left the rail," Hore-Lacy said.

''Of course, I was pleased that he handled the reverse direction but here at Caulfield we're able to work the opposite way two or three times a week, and he's [Clevadude] adjusted perfectly. He won't do anything more now. When we arrive on the Gold Coast he'll probably just have a trot and a canter and possibly a swim leading up to the race.''

Clevadude has not been tested in his wins at Cranbourne and Moonee Valley, and Hore-Lacy is quietly confident of success in Saturday's race but was mindful of the threat Assail poses. He believes his two-year-old has an edge going into one of Australia's richest two-year-olds' races.

''It's a tightish track, and ideally it's handy to be on the speed, and while Clevadude might be able to lead, it won't be a problem if he also follows the leader. And, of course, having such a fine temperament is another aspect on his side," Hore-Lacy said. ''You find in the last two weeks leading up to the Magic Millions you have horses popping up as very real chances, so it won't be an easy event to win but I couldn't be happier with my bloke.'' (www.theage.com.au)