Talented sprinter Whittington has been included in the 2015 Magic Millions Sprint field and will have the opportunity to win the race in back-to-back years.
Whittington is chasing back-to-back wins in the 2015 Magic Millions Sprint. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Whittington won the Magic Millions Sprint first-up last year while still under the care of leading trainer Gai Waterhouse and went on to finish fifth in both the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) and the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, but he has failed to replicate those performances since joining the Chris Waller stable.
The Tale Of The Cat entire made his debut for his new trainer when he finished sixth behind Terravista in the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) at Royal Randwick on September 20 and could finish no better than fifth when dropped back in class for the Myer Spring Fashion Handicap (1400m) at the same venue on December 15.
Whittington produced a better performance when he finished third in a barrier trial over 740 metres at Royal Randwick on December 15, but was far from impressive when he finished at the tail of the field in a trial over 1045 metres at the same venue on December 30.
Another horse that will be returning to the races in the 2015 Magic Millions Sprint is Liam Birchley-trained Missy Longstocking, who has not been seen since the Magic Millions meeting last year.
Missy Longstocking finished third behind Real Surreal and Sweet Idea in the 2013 edition of the Magic Millions Classic and suffered an injury when 11th in the Magic Millions Guineas last year, which has kept her away from racing since.
One of the most interesting runners in the 2015 Magic Millions Sprint field is Happy Galaxy, who will be chasing his first race win for over two years.
Happy Galaxy was touted as a potential star when he won both the Listed Zeditave Stakes (1200m) and Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) in 2013 and a trip to Hong Kong for the Group 1 Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m) was on the agenda for the Nadeem entire, but he failed to fire in his four subsequent starts for Team Hawkes and he joined the stable of Gary Moore in the middle of last year.
The five-year-old made his debut for the Moore stable with a poor effort in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on September 28 and was disappointing again when ninth in the Listed Canterbury Classic (1200m) on December 27.
Other notable horses in the 2015 Magic Millions Sprint field include top weight Excellantes, the resuming Platinum State and consistent gelding Seeking More.
