Mornington two year old I Am The General is racing for a spot in the $2m Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 11 when he lines up at Flemington on Saturday.
Trainer Peter Moody has nominated 3 colts for Saturday's Flemington 2yo Plate. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Trainer Shane Nichols is likely to start I Am The General in the $80,000 Super Vobis Two-Year-Plate (1000m) at Flemington in preference to waiting for the $200,000 Magic Millions Wyong 2yo Classic (1100m) at Wyong on December 19.
“Even though it’s 1000 metres at Flemington, it’s probably a tough 1000 metres which will suit him better,” Nichols told AAP.
“He has trained on very well since and hopefully if he can run in the first few he’ll go into the Magic Millions at his next run.”
“If he runs first three then that will probably get him into the Magic Millions.”
Nichols was pleased with I Am The General’s first race start when an unlucky third to Sheer Style in the $200,000 Magic Millions Clockwise Classic (1000m) at Ballarat November 24 and expects the I Am Invincible colt to show improvement at Flemington.
“He was quite impressive. The winner of that race is very good and we weren’t suited by the heavy track,” Nichols said.
“The winner carted us off on the corner a bit and may have cost us finishing a bit closer.”
I Am The General earned $18,000 in prizemoney for his Ballarat third and the first prize cheque on Saturday of $48,000 would guarantee a start for the colt at the Gold Coast.
Sheer Style will go straight into the Magic Millions Classic without another run with trainer Garry Frazer giving the Snitzel filly a short break after her win on the heavy track before preparing for the Gold Coast.
“I’d say she wasn’t really that comfortable on the heavy track,” Frazer said after the win.
“She’s probably better on top of the ground. She can have a break now and we’ll see where we end up.”
Saturday’s Flemington two year old Plate has attracted eighteen nominations, mostly first starters with several well-bred youngsters from the large Melbourne stables of Peter Moody, Peter Snowden and David Hayes.
Moody has entered three colts to make their race debut, Better Land by Shamardal, It’s About You by Snitzel and Krysor by Exceed And Excel while Snowden’s only entrant is Medaglia D’Oro colt Faraja, also having his first start.
While Hayes has five two year olds nominated to make their debuts, Wanted colt Shaf, plus four fillies, For Lulu by Fastnet Rock, La Cicciolina by Bernardini, Marocan Diva by Flying Spur and Wawil by Lonhro.
