Tough competitor Material Man will strip a lot fitter when he lines up second up in the Group 1 $1m Magic Millions Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot in Perth on December 8.
Trap For Fools, above, is set for the 2018 Kingston Town Classic at Ascot in Perth. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Justin Warwick trained Material Man was having his first start for almost six months when he finished a game third to Galaxy Star in last Saturday’s Group 1 $1m Kirin Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot.
Warwick’s daughter Lucy Warwick is the regular rider for Material Man and said the seven year old felt the pinch at the end of the 1600m of the Railway Stakes, but is adamant that he will take a lot of benefit from the run and be hard to beat in the Kingston Town Classic.
“He really ran out of his skin,” Warwick told TABradio.
“It was a massive run but it was just the speed that was too hot in the end.
“He really lifted with the weight, but it was the last 50m he just got tired which I think he was entitled to.”
“He’s pulled up great, he’s fine and ready to go again.”
“He can only improve off that.”
Material Man will get his chance to go one better than last year when runner up to Pounamu before he reversed the placings in the in the Group 2 $500,000 Perth Cup (2400m) at Ascot on New Year’s Day.
Material Man was unbeaten over the Winter months from three starts at Belmont, ranging in distance from 1400m to 2000m.
The chestnut gelding resumed for his Winter campaign with a win in the Group 3 $150,000 Belmont Sprint (1400m) on June 2 followed by a win in the Group 3 $150,000 Hyperion Stakes (1600m) and then completed a hat trick of wins with his victory in the Group 3 $150,000 Strickland Stakes (2000m) on June 30.
Material Man is well in contention in the betting for the Kingston Town Classic and is marked at $7 with Ladbrokes.com.au behind last Saturday’s Railway Stakes winner Galaxy Star at $4.40, W.A. Guineas winner Arcadia Queen at $4.60 and Mackinnion Stakes winner Trap For Fools at $5.50.
Early betting for the 2018 Kingston Town Classic at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.40 Galaxy Star, $4.60 Arcadia Queen, $5.50 Trap For Fools, $7 Material Man, $11 Peaceful State, $13 Gatting, $16 Action, Holy Snow, Man Booker, $17 Scales Of Justice, $18 Lady Cosmology, Prized Icon, $21 Achernar Star, Aloisia, Great Shot, Iconoclasm, Perfect Jewel, $26 or better the rest.
