Wicked Intent has been included in the 2015 Ken Russell Memorial Classic field and the talented colt is set to return to racing in the Group 3 event at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Wicked Intent will return to the races in the 2015 Ken Russell Memorial Classic at the Gold Coast this weekend. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Wicked Intent stamped himself as a horse to follow when he started his racing career with three straight victories in impressive fashion including a dominant four and a half lengths win in the Listed Phelan Ready Quality (1050m) at Doomben on December 13, but he suffered an upset defeat at the hands of Mishani Honcho in the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at the Gold Coast on December 27 before he finished a credible sixth behind Le Chef in the Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 10.
The Wicked Style colt was sent to the spelling paddock following his run in the Magic Millions Classic and he has been set for a 2015 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival campaign; with trainer Chris Munce keen to see if the two-year-old can run out a strong mile in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Doomben on June 6.
Wicked Intent will face stiff competition in the 2015 Ken Russell Memorial Classic and Godolphin have included the talented Sampeah in the acceptances for the Group 3 event.
Sampeah started his racing career with a win at Rosehill Gardens on November 29 and he finished third in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on February 14, eighth in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at the same venue on February 28 before he finished a tough third in the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 14.
Another Sydney-based two-year-old that will make the trip to Queensland for the Ken Russell Memorial Classic is Team Snowden-trained Denpurr.
Denpurr made her racing debut with a second place finish behind Aegean Sea in the Surf Meets The Turf Plate (1000m) at Randwick on November 22 and she broke through for a maiden race win with a narrow victory over the highly-rated Sempre Libera in the Cal Rei Handicap (1100m) at Warwick Farm on March 19.
Local two-year-olds Like A Ruler and Blueberry Hill will defend unbeaten records in the Ken Russell Memorial Classic, while Montana Star (barrier six), The Wildman (barrier five) and Valuchy (barrier 11) are also taking winning from into the $125,000 race.
