Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Real Surreal will follow the same path as Group 1 winning stablemate Sizzling and be aimed towards the Brisbane Winter Carnival after her breathtaking win at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Real Surreal will be aimed at the Brisbane Winter Carnival. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Winning trainer Kelso Wood has virtually ruled out a tilt at the Group 1 $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 6 and will send Real Surreal to the spelling paddock.
“I’m pretty sure we will turn her out. She has done a good job and she’s screaming out for time.” Wood said.
“I’m not one to push on to the Golden Slipper. I could have done the same thing with Sizzling, but the spell we gave him made him.
“It will make her too.”
Sizzling was one of the top local two year olds last year and ran fourth to Driefontein in 2012 $2m BMW Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) after which Wood sent the colt straight to the paddock.
The Snitzel colt then went through the winter undefeated from four starts culminating with a narrow win over Kabayan in the Group 1 $500,000 Patinack Farm T J Smith (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 9.
Michael Cahill rode a patience race on Real Surreal to steer her through the field to score by a head in the $2m Jeep Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) and agrees with Wood that the filly will have no trouble handling distances up to 1600m.
“I haven’t looked into her pedigree but she feels as though she will run a mile, no trouble,” Cahill said.
A break now will let Real Surreal get over her tough two weeks after scoring last week over 1000m at Eagle Farm to secure a place in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic and it will also give her the opportunity to grow and mature and give Wood a foundation for the winter races.
“There are plenty of races around, rather than trying to push young horses to the brink. It’s hard enough to get them to the Magic Millions,” Wood said.
“I try to look after the horses for the future. Potentially she has a great future, this filly.
“If you look after them they tend to produce, rather than having the guts raced out of them.”
Sizzling raced up his usual high standards and lost no admirers when he was an unlucky second to Saluter in the $1m Gold Coast Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (1400m).
After jumping from the outside barrier, Sizzling was always well back and was checked at the 600m just as he started to move forward, forcing Craig Williams to scout wide on the three year old before running Saluter to a head.
Wood is anticipating another successful Winter and as well as searching for Group 1 glory with Real Surreal, the top trainer has selected the Group 1 $1m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 8 for Sizzling.
“That’s the logical race for him,” he said.
“I would love to try him over a mile in Sydney, but I don’t think the Doncaster would be realistic.”
