The tight turns of the Wyong track on Thursday hold no fears for the Lloyd Kennewell-trained La Pomme De Pin as the filly takes her next step towards the Gold Coast’s $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) in January.
Joe Bowditch stays on La Pomme De Pin in the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic on Thursday. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.
This week a field of eight top two-year-olds are engaged for the Restricted Listed $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1100m) including two fillies taking on the colts and geldings.
The race serves as an important lead-up into the Magic Millions 2YO Classic race at Queensland’s Gold Coast Racecourse on January 13, a double last completed by Capitalist (2015-16) who also went on to win the iconic Golden Slipper Stakes.
Leading the markets for the Wyong Magic Millions Classic on Thursday at Ladbrokes.com.au is the unraced Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Star Witness filly Terminology ($2.80) whose latest hit-out produced a 10.3 length trial win at Rosehill over 900m on December 8.
Already proven under race conditions and one of only two non-maidens in the race is then $8 shot La Pomme De Pin drawn the outside barrier with jockey Joe Bowditch continuing his association with the Adelaide-based daughter of I Am Invincible.
La Pomme De Pin was last seen racing at Ballarat on November 25 for a runaway 5.5 length victory over Anthemoessa in the $200,000 Magic Millions 2YO Clockwise Classic (1000m).
That was a much improved run on her debut second when just beaten by Long Leaf at Morphettville back in late October and one that showed the Sydney and Queensland way of racing held no fears for the up-and-comer.
South Australian trainer of the moment Kennewell remains confident that La Pomme De Pin is a livewire chance to salute again on Thursday at Wyong despite taking on the likes of Jonker ($2.90) and Bondi ($4.40) who are equal $9 second favourites with Terminology for the Gold Coast race next month in futures betting.
“Ballarat is tight and she handled that track well,” Kennewell, who enjoyed his first Group 1 victory with Viddora in the Winterbottom Stakes in Perth this month, told The Daily Telegraph.
“I think Wyong will be perfect for her. I only gave her one gallop the Sydney way and then a jump-out before Ballarat. Her jump-out was good but she was better again on race day.
“This is what she is like. She is a filly that just keeps improving and I’m really happy with her going into Thursday’s race.”
La Pomme De Pin currently pays $15 in the pre-field Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic betting markets, a price set to firm if she is successful at Wyong this weekend.
Kennewell also saddles-up Senor Gaudi this Thursday in the $100,000 Wyong Magic Millions 3YO Stakes (1200m) field.
The super-consistent Master Of Design four-year-old has had four career runs for two win and two thirds.
His latest was behind Debonairly when under a length beaten in the $100,000 Magic Millions 3YO & 4YO Classic (1100m) at Ballarat on November 25.
“He is a very good horse on the up. I really like him,” Kennewell said.
“We had to give Gai’s horse [Debonairly] five kilos at Ballarat and that filly is already a stakes winner so I thought Senor Gaudi did really well to only just get beaten.
“I think he can run very competitively at Wyong.”
It is a competitive race for Senor Gaudi on Thursday with the likes of the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained odds-on favourite Arbeitsam and the smart colt Single Bullet among the dangers.
