Unbeaten colt Wicked Intent has joined the Gai Waterhouse trained Carriages as equal favourite for the $2m Jeep Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 10.
Wicked Intent is now the equal favourite for the Magic Millions 2yo Classic after scoring an impressive win at Doomben, above. Photo by Daniel Costello.
The Barry Mitchell trained Wicked Intent scored an impressive four and a half lengths win in the $65,000 Breakfast Creek Hotel QTIS two year old Handicap (1050m) at Doomben last Saturday.
Grand Slam winning jockey Chris Munce took Wicked Intent straight to the front and the youngster cruised along before scampering away in the straight unchallenged.
Carriages was posted as the favourite for the Magic Millions 2yo Classic after also leading all of the way to win the $200,000 Magic Millions Clockwise Classic (1000m) at Ballarat on November 22.
But bookmakers were quick to respond to Wicked Intent’s Doomben victory and he now shares favouritism with Carriages at $5.50.
“Six weeks time, that the one we want,” said winning trained Barry Mitchell.
“He is only a little horse, but he has a huge stride. He covers a lot of territory.”
Saturday’s win was Wicked Intent’s second from two starts after scoring on debut with Brad Stewart in the $65,000 Sequallo Legacy – Spirit Of Boom QTIS 2yo C&G Plate (900m) at the Gold Coast on October 4.
Munce has won the Magic Millions 2yo Classic on three previous occasions on Sunblazer in 1989, Excellerator in 2001 and Dance Hero in 2004 and feels that Wicked Intent is in with a real chance.
“He’s up with them,” Munce said.
“He’s skips the lids, he’s a lovely mover and takes a huge stride.”
Mitchell, who is Munce’s father in law, is still working out Wicked Intent’s final lead up races to the Magic Millions 2yo Classic but the Group 3 $150,000 B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at the Gold Coast on December 27 is in the mix.
“There’s another race over 1050 metres here in a fortnight or the BJ McLachlan at the end of December if we want to try him at 1200 metres before the Millions,” Mitchell said.
Munce is also keen on the chances of the Liam Birchely trained Pepperano whom he rode to victory in a two year old handicap over 1110m at Doomben on November 22 but is most likely to stick with Wicked Intent.
Pepperano is currently a $9 chance in Magic Millions 2yo Classic betting.
