Aerobar will be stepping up to 1400 metres for the first time in her racing career on Saturday in the 2015 Magic Millions Guineas, but trainer Gerald Ryan is confident that she can run out the trip strongly.
Gerald Ryan fancies the chances of Aerobar in the 2015 Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Aerobar has raced exclusively between 1000 metres and 1200 metres since she made her racing debut with a third place finish behind Wandjina in the Australian Turf Club Handicap (1000m) at Warwick Farm on February 19, but Ryan told Racing Ahead that the Flying Spur filly’s impressive performance in the Wyong Magic Millions Stakes gave him the impression that the three-year-old will get the trip in the Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast this weekend.
“Originally we always thought that she would run 1400, but then we dropped off the idea but I watched that replay from Wyong a couple of times and she sat right on the leaders tail and she was strong right through the line,” Ryan said.
“She is going to put herself in the first four and provided she can have a rest somewhere along the way I am hoping that she can run the 1400, but she does give me the impression that she will run the 1400.
“You try it now and it gives you somewhere to go next time.”
Aerobar started her 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a win on a heavy track in the Testa Rossa At Vinery Plate (1100m) at Warwick Farm on October 15 before she performed fairly in the Group 3 Gucci Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on November 6.
She produced a poor effort when she finished at the tail of the field in the De Bortoli Wines Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 29, but she was most impressive in a barrier trial over 740 metres at Warwick Farm on December 9 before she recorded the biggest race win of her career to date in the Wyong Magic Millions Stakes.
Ryan is not concerned about the prospect of a wet track at the Gold Coast for Aerobar on Saturday and he said that he has been thrilled with everything the three-year-old has done since her strong trial win.
“She is probably better on wet ground,” Ryan said.
“When James won on her at Warwick Farm he said he thought she would be better on top of the ground and then she went to Flemington and dead set got lost down the straight, but the last part of her race was quiet good.
“She went to Rosehill and went awful and I couldn’t work out how she went that bad, but I wacked a pair of blinkers on and trialed her and she trialed terrific and she raced terrific at Wyong since.”
Aerobar is currently available at 2015 Magic Millions Guineas odds of $8, while Hijack Hussy ($3.50) remains a clear favourite from Testashadow ($7) and Echo Gal ($8.50).
