Unbeaten filly Frequendly starts her countdown to the $2m BMW Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast in January at Doomben on Saturday.
Frequendly starts her Magic Millions countdown at Doomben on Saturday. Photo by Daniel Costello.
The Les Ross trained Frequendly was given a break after scoring an eight and three quarter lengths win in a 1050m two year old Handicap at Doomben on October 25.
The Sequalo filly had previously won on debut over 900m at the Gold Coast and was immediately set for the Magic Millions in the new year.
“I was a bit surprised she didn’t win easier at her first start at the Gold Coast,” Ross told AAP.
“On what she had shown us on the track I expected her to win by panels.
“But at her next start at Doomben she won by more than nine lengths and while it was only a small field it showed what she can do.”
Ross has mapped at a program that will give Frequendly five race starts before lining up at the Coast Coast on January 10, the same number of starts that last year’s winner Unencumbered had before winning the Magic Millions 2yo Classic.
“Unencumbered had five starts leading into the Magic Millions with his final lead-up in the McLachlan Stakes,” Ross said.
Frequendly is certain to start in the red when she steps out in the $65,000 Capture The Feeling QTIS 2yo Handicap (1110m) at Doomben and Ross plans to give the filly another run at Doomben in a fortnight before her Magic Millions final lead up run in the Group 3 $150,000 B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at the Gold Coast on December 27.
“From there we will hopefully go on to the Magic Millions Classic a fortnight later,” Ross said.
In other Magic Millions news, smart Melbourne two year old Prompt Return continues on his way towards the Magic Millions 2yo Classic when he lines up in the $200,000 Magic Millions Clockwise Classic (1000m) at Ballarat on Saturday.
The Danny O’Brien trained colt will also start a short priced favourite after impressive wins from two starts.
Prompt Return won on debut over 900m at Bendigo on October 18 then raced away to record a two lengths win over Old Trieste in the Group 3 $150,000 racing.com Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington on November 8.
“He ran time that day and it was firmish ground, but he certainly took the run very well and we obviously wouldn’t push on to Saturday unless we thought that,” O’Brien said.
“If he comes through it and we are heading up to the Coast then we are probably going to stay back here and we don’t need to go up there and give him another practice in the right-handed direction seeing that he has had a trial and a race.”
