Million-dollar clash for stallion crown

There is much more on the line than the $1 million prizemoney when favourites The Next Episode and Natural Fling clash in the Magic Millions National Classic at the Gold Coast on Friday night.

If Home Affairs filly Natural Fling ($2.60) or unbeaten colt Marffiano ($13) wins it could wrap up the two-year-old stallion premiership for Coolmore’s first season sensation.

The Next Episode ($1.95), a product of the evergreen Snitzel, could push his all-time great sire to the lead in the title chase with victory and towards another two-year-old stallion title.

Home Affairs already has the Golden Slipper winner Guest House from a stellar first crop and has almost $120,000 advantage on Snitzel in the standings.

However, Tony McEvoy, who paid $550,000 for Natural Fling at the Magic Millions sales last year without owners, is confident his filly has matured at the right time for some of his oldest clients.

“She was just one I had to have. I had trained her mum and we never saw the best of her and she was just a beautiful filly,” McEvoy said.

“We got some good people into her.

“She is a bit like her mum in that her legs were too fast for her body and she kept going shin sore.

“We had to be patient, but she finally got there and her first win showed what she is just a natural.

“We just had to wait for her to be ready.

“She is the type of filly that is going to get better with time, but you don’t get the chance to run for $1 million against restricted company.

“The colt [The Last Episode] is obviously very good, but so is she. It should be a good contest,”

Australia’s best breeders will be on the Gold Coast for the weanling and broodmare sales over the next week and a win for Natural Fling would be a great advertisement for Coolmore with the cross of Home Affairs over a Fastnet Rock mare.

There are three $1 million two-year-old races left in the season, which will decision the champion two-year-old stallion.