Stella Declares Casino Cup Showdown Wide Open

QUEENSLAND trainer Greg Stella is a devoted form student but even he admits Friday's Group 3 Casino Cup Final (484m) is a raffle.

Stella should know, he has likely Cup favourite Magistrate drawn the three box and is in fabulous form.

“He's been racing for exactly 12 months and the Cup final on Friday night will be his 46th start,” said Greg.

Magistrate (Fernando Bale-Inspired Hope) has won 23 race and $329,000 in prize money.

FIELDS AND FORM CASINO FRIDAY

While he is likely to start favourite for the Cup, Stella knows Magistrate's seven rivals are all hard to toss.

“I honestly cannot find one that is the hardest to beat,” he said.

“There is a lot of early pace in the final with no more than a length between them all to the winning post the first time.”

Stella is happy with the way Magistrate pulled up after his 27.47 Cup heat victory last Friday.

“Dino Way is drawn inside him and he wants a bit of room early,” said Greg.

“Our bloke will need to be in front to win.

“But, he's had a couple of trials on the track and three race starts so he knows what he's doing there.

“He might not be the fastest dog racing, but he puts in 100 percent every time he races.”

Stella said Fahey's Magic was a great run when second to Dino Way in its heat last week, local Magic Secret is “a tough local going great”, and Gypsy Joker is right on song after two runs from a spell.

“And, how can you leave out Canya Exclusive who was having its first race start on the track in the heats and has such an impressive strike rate,” he said.

Magistrate will head back to Albion Park next week for the Queensland Flame.

It is Racing Queensland's entry into The Phoenix at The Meadows on December 16.

“They've changed the qualifying for the race to a best eight so if we win we are off to The Meadows,” said Greg.