Eclat will make her racing debut in the 2014 Magic Millions and trainer Mick Price has a good opinion of the debutant, but he admits that the filly is unlikely to start her racing career with a win at Ballarat on Saturday.
Craig Newitt has been booked to ride Eclat in the 2014 Magic Millions Clockwise Classic at Ballarat on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
The Beneteau filly has not been seen in any public trials, but she performed well in an unofficial jump out behind subsequent The Orange Spot Bakery Plate winner Atalanta Miss and Price told Racing Ahead that the $200,000 Magic Millions Clockwise Classic represents an excellent opportunity for Eclat to accumulate prizemoney for connections.
“It is a small field and a good opportunity for those sort of horses,” Price said.
“I wouldn’t think that she could win, but she did trial alongside side Atalanta Miss and trialed well.
“I think that Patty Payne’s horse is going better than her and if Prompt Return turns up that is obviously the good form in the race and that would be hard to beat for her.
“It is a good opportunity to race in a $200,000 race with a small field and she can probably earn prizemoney without winning.”
Price is also hoping to take advantage of the additional prizemoney on offer in the Magic Millions Three-Year-Old Classic (1100m) and has included Guajeo in the final for the $100,000 race that will be held at Ballarat on Saturday.
Guajeo has not been particularly impressive in her two race starts during his racing career to date, but Price believes that there is not a great deal between the majority of the horses in the Magic Millions Three-Year-Old Classic.
“Guajeo is still a maiden and there is a little bit missing with her under pressure, but it is a $100,000 race and it is basically 0-62 bar one horse,” Price said.
“Reigning Meteor has a little bit of form, but for $100,000 I could always go back for a maiden, but we thought that we would give her a chance in a small field in a restricted conditions race for excellent prizemoney.
“I am hoping this preparation that she finds a bit under pressure and her trials was good, but she has just been a bit weak under pressure unfortunately.”
Price has a strong hand at Ballarat on Saturday with Hunger set to contest the Eureka Concrete Handicap (1400m), Making Mayhem and Devon Princess in the Gold Eureka Stockade (1400m), Mighty Like in the City Of Ballarat Tonks Plate (1200m), Count Of Limonade in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2200m) and Eximius in the Isuzu Handicap (1600m).
