A new look Mediterranean has boosted his chances for the $2m Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 14 with a comfortable win in a 1050m Randwick barrier trial today.
Mediterranean was a well beaten 8th behind Astern, above, in the Golden Rose at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Smart Missile three year old was stepping out for the first time in public after being gelded and the win gave co-trainer Peter Snowden confidence that he will now be able to race up to his true potential.
“It was important that he trialled well today,” Snowden told racing.com.
“Look, he ran all the way up to the Golden Rose but it was quite evident the horse wasn’t applying himself properly and he was going nowhere.”
“He wasn’t putting in at all. I know the syndicate that it’s their aim is to get the colts but he’s too good ability-wise to let go because he wasn’t trying. There’s a future there for him as a gelding as long as he can get back to his best.”
Mediterranean was looming as one of the top early season three year olds as he headed towards the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 10 but his form started to fall away and he went into the first Group 1 of the season for the three year olds as a $21 chance after finishing fifth the start before in the Group 2 $175,000 MTA Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill on August 27.
Mediterranean was never in contention in the Golden Rose and was a well beaten eighth behind the John O’Shea trained Astern.
Snowden is now hoping that Mediterranean repeats his trial winning form when he steps out on January 2 before heading to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions 3yo Guineas.
“You aren’t going up there to make up the numbers so he’s pretty much got to win when he gets to the races on the 2nd (of January),” Snowden said.
“This year, it will be the strongest editions of the two, three and four-year-old races I think there had since they’ve been running it. They are going to be pretty hot races. They’ve got Group 1 winners going up there.”
Mediterranean is rated as a $13 chance for the Magic Millions 3yo Guineas at Ladbrokes.com.au who have last start Eagle Farm runaway winner Winning Rupert as the $3.10 favourite.
Dual Group 1 winner Global Glamour from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable is on the second line of betting at $4.20 ahead of the Darren Weir trained Speedeor at $8.
Early market order for the Magic Millions 3yo Guineas at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.10 Winning Rupert, $4.20 Global Glamour, $8 Speedeor, $11 Niccolance, $13 Mediterranean, $17 Miss Wonderland, Billy The Kid, Pipeline, Eckstein Scarlet Rain, , $19 Candika, $26 Faraway Town, Tiyatrolani, Heart Skipt A Beat, Redouble, Realing, $31 Banachek, $34 or better the rest.
