Doomben 10000 winner Music Magnate has drawn in close in a small field for the Group 2 $200,000 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Music Magnate, above, is set to resume in the Expressway Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Bjorn Baker trained Music Magnate steps out for the first time for the 2017 Sydney Autumn Carnival and has drawn barrier two in the six weight for age field.
Melbourne Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy will continue his association with the Written Tycoon gelding after steering him to a memorable win in the Group 1 $750,000 James Boag’s Premium Doomben 10000 (1350m) at Doomben during the 2016 Brisbane Winter Carnival.
Music Magnate had one more Winter Carnival run before being sent for a spell for a disappointing sixteenth to Under The Louvre in the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 11.
The five year old has won both his barrier trials at Randwick and Rosehill in preparation for his return to the race track and Baker is happy with the way he will present for the Expressway Stakes.
“He is going as well as ever,” Baker told RSN’s Racing Ahead.
“1200m first up at Randwick, something to look forward to.”
Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride will saddle up two runners in the Expressway Stakes, the in-form Kuro and his tough front runner Ball Of Muscle.
Kuro has drawn the rails with Josh Parr in the saddle again after the pair combined to win the Listed $125,000 De Bortoli Wines Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford on January 13.
Kuro was also a winner three starts back for Jay Ford in the Listed $125,000 Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on December 3.
The blinkers go back on Ball Of Muscle who hasn’t been in the winner’s stall since taking out the Group 2 $175,000 Magic Millions QTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben during the 2015 Brisbane Winter Carnival.
Ball Of Muscle will be fitter for two runs back from a spell and fought on okay in the straight after leading when third to stablemate Kuro in the Takeover Target Stakes.
Tim Clark takes over from Damien Oliver on Ball Of Muscle who has drawn barrier four.
The Rodney Northam trained Big Money is also struggling to regain winning form and will jump from gate five with Hugh Bowman in the saddle.
Handfast from the powerful Godolphin stable will jump from barrier three with James Doyle to ride while the only three year old in the field, Attention from the Peter and Paul Snowden stable, has drawn thee outside gate in the small six horse Expressway Stakes field.
