Trainer Brendan McCarthy has elected to save Murt The Flirt for the 2014 Wyong Magic Millions Three-Year-Old Classic rather than run the talented gelding at Sandown on Saturday.
Chris Symons is unable to take the ride on Murt The Flirt in the Wyong Magic Millions Three-Year-Old Classic. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Murt The Flirt was included in the nominations for the Dunlite Handicap (1000m) that will be held at Sandown on Saturday, but McCarthy told Racing Ahead that the three-year-old did enough during a clockwise trackwork gallop at Caulfield this morning to indicate that he is worthy of a tilt at the $100 Magic Millions Classic at Wyong on December 18.
“Until this morning there was some possibility of him going there, but he had a gallop the other way around this morning and I was quiet happy with the way he went,” McCarthy said.
“There is probably every reason to progress on to Wyong now.
“It was actually his first gallop this morning since the run.
“He was on the little track at Caulfield which is quiet a tight track, so it was a good testing ground to go the other way.
“He did handle it well and he was probably like a horse that was a little bit more experienced in his ways in the way that he did get around there.”
Murt The Flirt will likely head to the Gold Coast for the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas on January 10 if he performs well in the Wyong Magic Millions Three-Year-Old Classic, but McCarthy is already looking even further ahead with the Ballarat Magic Millions Three-Year-Old Classic winner.
McCarthy admits that it might be too great an ask to set Murt The Flirt for the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival if he makes the trip to the Gold Coast, but the 2015 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival and the 2015 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival are both on the agenda for the lightly-raced three-year-old.
“A trip away likes this always helps horses come along a bit anyway and having that under his belt will be a good thing for the future,” McCarthy said.
“Racing over this time of year you sort of limit your chances for coming back to the autumn, but if he went well we would concentrate on having him back-up in Queensland for the winter up there or ready for the spring down here.”
Murt The Flirt will stay at the stables of Gerald Ryan when he makes the trip to New South Wales for the Wyong Magic Millions Three-Year-Old Classic, but McCarthy is yet to book a jockey for the race; with Chris Symons unavailable to take the ride due to shoulder surgery.
