The Follow Files: Magic Millions colt impresses at Ballarat
This Saturday we had the Listed Ballarat Cup and feature Magic Millions races from Ballarat on the club’s annual Cup Day. Meanwhile, over in Perth, the second day of The Pinnacles took place with Railway Stakes Day, highlighted by the Group 1 Railway Stakes and Group 2 WA Guineas. In this week’s Follow Files, we have found three horses that are worth following next start after impressive runs on Saturday.
Both tracks played quite fairly for most of the day, with runners winning from everywhere at Ascot, and at Ballarat it was beneficial to get to the outside fence later in the day as the rain settled in and the track started to deteriorate.
Ballarat – Ballarat Cup Day
Track rating: Good 4 (Soft 6 after R2, Soft 7 after R4, Heavy 8 after R7)
Rail position: True entire circuit
Race 3: Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1000m) | Time: 1:01.68
- Horse to follow: Sunsource (1st)
Sunsource from the Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young stable couldn’t have been any more impressive when winning on debut in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. This son of Zoustar gave the field that two-length head start, and even on the home turn he was still three lengths off the leaders, but there was no need to worry, as he idled up outside the leaders and went on to record a very impressive 1.75-length victory. Daniel Moor said post-race that he knew what type of ability this horse had, so he never worried during the run.
When to bet: Sunsource will be on his way to the Magic Millions Raceday on the Gold Coast in January next year, and there won’t be very many horses with better debut performances than this guy. Busuttin said post-race that he would give his colt one or two runs before the Magic Millions, so wherever he lines up next, he will be a definite bet.
Ascot – Railway Stakes Day
Track rating: Good 4
Rail position: True entire circuit
Race 1: Magic Millions Crystal Slipper Stakes (1100m) | Time: 1:05.53
- Horse to follow: Home James (2nd)
In the first race on Railway Stakes Day at Ascot, Home James from the Neville Parnham stable was on debut off the back of a nice trial where he ran home under his own steam to finish second. On Saturday, he settled two pairs back off the leaders and one horse off the fence, which gave him a great run in transit. As the field rounded the home turn this son of Maurice got to the outside and ran on strong, but as they got to the 100m mark he peaked on his run, going down by less than a length to the eventual winner. If this guy had a cosy run like the winner got from barrier two with more cover, the result could have been flipped.
When to bet: Home James is only a two-year-old gelding, so if he comes through the run well, we could see him run again in a couple of weeks; however, the stable may take the cautious approach and send him out for a spell. At this moment, the connections haven’t nominated him for any races, but no matter where they take him next start, he is one to follow as he looks to have a bright future.
Race 4: RTG 66+ Handicap (1400m) | Time: 1:24.23
- Horse to follow: Zephyra (11th)
One of the unluckiest runners across Australia on Saturday was the four-year-old Zephyra from the Simon Miller yard. This mare jumped well from barrier one, but she didn’t push up and hold the box seat position behind the leaders and ended up getting crossed by four or five horses, burying her three horses back on the fence. When the rest of the field were starting to make their runs around the outside and finding room to run on, this girl just saw speed humps and slow horses that were falling back in her lap and knocking her around. Eventually this daughter of Demerit found some room and worked home under her own steam to run 11th of 14, but if you had money on her, it was a horror watch.
When to bet: After failing as a $2.15 favourite first-up, Zephyra drifted out to $6 in the final minutes before the race on Saturday. At her next start, we could see Zephyra step up to 1600m, and considering her last two performances have been failures, you may get a good price to see if she can finally snap the run of outs and break through for her first win this preparation. This girl won her first three starts and she obviously has talent, so we will be following her wherever she goes next.