Unencumbered gave jockey Nathan Berry his biggest race win in the Magic Millions Classic on Saturday.
Unencumbered ($3.25 fav) was smartly away from his good barrier (3) and then eased to settle in seventh place, between runners, travelling nicely behind a solid tempo (first 600m 34.27).
Nathan Berry angled him into the clear rounding the home turn and the colt moved up strongly to take the lead at the 200m. He then drew clear to win by three quarters of a length, in good time 1:09.60.
Oakleigh Girl was quickly away from her barrier (6) and led early before easing to enjoy a good run in fifth place on the rails. She got a clear run along the rails rounding the home turn and took the lead on straightening. She then fought back particularly well for a very good second, just finding the high class winner a little too strong on the day.
Ruby Soho ($17) drifted back from barrier two and settled in 12th place. She was still well back, between runners, rounding the home turn before switching across heels at the 250m. She then made up good ground for a promising third, without looking likely to trouble the first pair.
Cyclone had a good rails trip from his inside barrier (1) and raced in eighth place on the rails to the home turn. He switched between runners at the 300m and kept fighting on nicely for a sound fourth, beaten four lengths.
Stroak was second last in the 16-horse field to the turn. She then kept making ground in resolute fashion in the centre of the track for a good four and a half lengths fifth.
Vienna Royale and Sagatona both battled on quite well to dead-heat for sixth, after seeming to have every chance while the Hawkes-trained colt Invisible ($7) was 10th, deep with cover, before going very wide rounding the home turn. He then kept making ground for eighth, beaten just under five lengths, putting up a sound performance at only his second start.
