The brilliance of the Queensland gallopers shone brightly all around the country on Saturday
A thrilling win in the Villiers Stakes at Randwick by led the way for a feast of black-type results for Queensland that included a genuine challenge for the title of Australia’s best sprinter and a tightening on the favouritism for the upcoming $2million Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Rudy, who has always displayed exceptional potential, delivered an eye-catching winning performance in the Listed Recognition Stakes at Doomben when resuming a fortnight ago and this gave Helen the confidence to aim him at the big time down south.
He is a horse with a tremendous future, but he was not the only “Queenslander” to have stamped himself a class animal at Randwick on the day as the flying “Rockhampton Rocket” Our Boy Malachi continued on his merry winning way.The Top Echelon 6YO took his career stats to an incredible 16 wins from 18 starts as he effortlessly spanked his rivals in the Listed Razor Sharp to leave some of Sydney’s best sprinters in his wake.
The Queenslander will probably now head to the paddock before coming back to target the G1 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick in March next year.Up in the northern State, the black type results continued to pour in as Wicked Style’s exciting young 2YO colt Wicked Intent sounded an ominous warning that he would be the horse to beat in the big $2million Magic Millions Classic in January.
Queensland bred youngsters Real Surreal and Mimi Lebrock have added their names in recent years to the list of Magic Millions winning 2YO’s that include greats such as Brave Warrior, General Nediym and co. and Wicked Intent could very well be joining them shortly judging by his devastating victory on Saturday.Lining up for his first black-type assignment in the $100,000 Listed Phelan Ready Stakes, Wicked Intent never looked in doubt as he outpointed his opposition at all stages to stride away for the easiest of wins.
The victory kept his unbeaten record intact and, with over $196,000 in the bank from his three runs he is likely to enter next months’ rich Magic Millions race as a warm favourite.One trainer who isn’t conceding that event though is Liam Birchley, who has been in red-hot form of late and unleashed yet another very promising galloper with debutant Sequalo filly Flamenco finishing strongly to claim the $100,000 Listed Calaway Gal Stakes.
Birchley indicated the filly will be even better suited over 1200m and may very well go straight into the Magic Millions as her next start.Other Queenslanders headed to big assignments on Magic Millions day who also grabbed black type on Saturday include Show A Heart’s filly, She’s Miss Devine and Real Saga’s daughter Stroak, both of whom delivered eye-catching performances as they gear up for the $1million 3YO Magic Millions Guineas in January.
With increased prizemoney ad an improved QTIS system on the way, racing and breeding in Queensland is only going from strength to strength.