The $1 million Magic Millions Trophy at the Gold Coast is shaping like a state of origin showdown with Toowoomba trainer Rex Lipp hoping for a Maroon victory from Express Air.The Lipp-trained Express Air heads the markets for the 1400-metre feature at $3.20 with TAB Sportsbet but the pressure is mounting on the Queenslander from the Gai Waterhouse-trained pair Rock Kingdom ($4.80) and Bhutane Dane ($8.50) who are the second and third fancies with punters.Sydney-based Waterhouse has won the Magic

The $1 million Magic Millions Trophy at the Gold Coast is shaping like a state of origin showdown with Toowoomba trainer Rex Lipp hoping for a Maroon victory from Express Air.

The Lipp-trained Express Air heads the markets for the 1400-metre feature at $3.20 with TAB Sportsbet but the pressure is mounting on the Queenslander from the Gai Waterhouse-trained pair Rock Kingdom ($4.80) and Bhutane Dane ($8.50) who are the second and third fancies with punters.

Sydney-based Waterhouse has won the Magic Millions Trophy once with top filly Ha Ha who was booted to victory by Jim Cassidy in 2002.

But Lipp rates his chances of success better this time than he did with Sequential Charm who finished third in the Magic Millions Trophy won by Gold Edition in 2007.

"There's no Gold Edition to get out and break their hearts in the race this year," Lipp said.

"My filly is not brilliant out of the barriers but she does hit the line strongly."

Express Air has been a worry for connections with her tardy starts but Lipp is not overly concerned after a recent experiment with winkers.

The Piccolo filly wore blinkers but stood flat-footed in the barriers and was a clear last before flashing home for second to the Gillian Heinrich-trained Feline Flyer over 1200 metres at Doomben on December 6.

Lipp received a timely phone call from Gold Coast trainer Bevan Laming following the filly's defeat advising him to use winkers on Express Air for her next start.

She subsequently jumped with the field but settled back in her customary manner before again flashing home for second to Youthful Jack in the Listed Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at Doomben on December 27.

"We experimented with winkers on her last run and she appeared to jump a lot better," Lipp said.

"The winkers idea came from Bevan Laming who rang me up after she stood flat-footed in the barriers first up.

"I was quite happy the way she raced last time but if it was an ordinary race I might have considered another gear change but it's a million dollar race."

Lipp has taken great heart from Express Air's defeat by Youthful Jack who he prepared as a two-year-old last season to win three races in succession including the Listed Australia Post Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June.

"I know just how good Youthful Jack is after being his stand-in trainer last year," Lipp said.

"My filly was held up for a run against him last time and it would have been an interesting finish if she got a clear go.

"I believe Youthful Jack would be a real threat as a three-year-year-old in the Stradbroke Handicap this year and a real Doncaster Handicap chance over the mile later on."

Lipp declared Rock Kingdom as the runner he feared most in the Magic Millions Trophy following his sensational 1200-metre victory at Randwick on Boxing Day.

"I know he's drawn bad in barrier 17 but he came from a long way back to score at Randwick and there's always pressure in this race which should suit him," he said.