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Jay RooneyThe West Australian Trainer Darren McAuliffe expects his quality filly Military Reign to lead and prove hard to run down in today’s $100,000 Beaufine Stakes (1000m) at Belmont
Park. An impressive winner at seven of her 15 starts, Military Reign will chase her first black-type win when she takes on a solid field of sprinters, including Rock Magic. The
three-year-old has proven herself against older opposition, with three wins and four placings from seven starts this campaign. She resumed with a brilliant all-the-way win over Magnifisio in
the Marjorie Charleson Classic (1200m) at Ascot in April and has also won twice over 1000m at Belmont. McAuliffe said Military Reign had thrived since she was freshened after her last run
four weeks ago. “I don’t think I’ve had her going any better,” McAuliffe said. “Hopefully I’m right on Saturday. She’s a pretty good fresh horse and if we get a bit of rain hopefully that
will enhance her chances. “Something would have to race out of its pattern to lead her and I think Vega Magic is probably the only horse in WA that could lead her. I expect her to be very,
very hard to beat.” Military Reign’s chances of leading all the way received a boost when she drew barrier one. She drops to the 54.5kg minimum and will be ridden by William Pike. McAuliffe
is keen to boost Military Reign’s current rating of 91 with a win today. Her long-term goal is the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in November. The TAB rates Military Reign a
$2.30 favourite for the Beaufine ahead of Rock Magic at $5.50. Rock Magic won the Beaufine last year. Military Reign’s stablemate Rebel King is rated a $14 chance. “Between him and Military
Reign they’ve had about 17 starts over 1000 and the worst result was when he ran fourth to Zuccheros (last month),” McAuliffe said. “He has a disdain for wet tracks, but we’ve got limited
options.” Belmont was yesterday rated a good 4, but rain is forecast today. Meanwhile, jockey Joseph Azzopardi is confident My Magic Miss will continue her hot form in today’s Gold
Membership 2016/17 Handicap (2100m). Azzopardi has guided the Ross Price-trained mare to victory in two of her past three starts, including a 21/4-length win a fortnight ago. “She’s really
thriving this prep and hasn’t trained off,” Azzopardi said. GET THE LATEST NEWS FROM THEWEST.COM.AU IN YOUR INBOX. Sign up for our emails