Brisbane jockey Timothy Bell has no doubt that Celestial Dragon will be the big improver heading into the 2014 Jeep $2m Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Celestial Dragon and Timothy Bell scoring first up at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Bell will be aboard Celestial Dragon again after guiding the colt to two wins at Doomben from two race starts and is certain the Hidden Dragon colt has a bright future.
The Stuart Kendrick trained youngster led all of the way scoring over 1110m on debut on November 30 then repeated the performance with an all the way win over the same distance on December 21.
“I’m quite confident that this horse is going to be a very very dominant horse in this race,” Bell said.
“As we get close the confident I am getting. He may not have beaten much but I tell you you haven’t seen the best of him yet.”
Bell had been sweating on a good barrier and his confidence was further boosted at the Magic Millions barrier draw at the Gold Coast on Tuesday when the undefeated colt came up with gate number five in the sixteen horse field.
“It’s been an anxious wait. Once that barrier got plucked out, in barrier five, it really put a smile on my face,” Bell said.
Celestial Dragon is currently at the good odds of $12 with the $3.80 favourite Unencumbered drawn inside the Sunshine Coast trained two year old.
The Bjorn Baker trained Unencumbered with Nathan Berry to ride, is the deserved favourite with four wins from five starts and will get a perfect run from gate three.
The Testa Rossa colt has held his form superbly and was very impressive in winning the $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1100m) at Wyong on December 19 before his last start win in the Group 3 $150,000 B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on December 28.
Invisible ($6), from the Team Hawkes stable, burst into Magic Millions 2yo Classic calculations with a first up win over 1200m at Canterbury on December 28 while Eagle Farm trained filly Oakleigh Girl ($8) has always been in the Magic Millions mix after scoring first up down the Flemington straight on Melbourne Cup day in the Group 3 $120,000 7News Plate (1000m).
The Danny Bougoure trained filly has since won the Listed $100,000 Channel Seven Calaway Gal Stakes (1010m) at Doomben on December 14 before suffering her first defeat when fourth to Unencumbered in the B.J. McLachlan Stakes.
