An all-too-easy win by the odds-on favourite Wicked Intent in Saturday’s Phelan Ready Stakes at Doomben has the Barry Mitchell-trained colt on track for a shot at the $2 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) next month.
Phelan Ready Stakes winner Wicked Intent is firm favourite for next month’s 2015 Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast. Photo: Daniel Costello.
The undefeated Wicked Style two-year-old continued his magic run securing his third win from as many career starts on Saturday in the $100,000 Listed Morgans Seafood Phelan Ready Stakes (1050m).
Backing up from a win over the same track and distance from November 29, Wicked Intent ($1.45) was extremely dominant once again with a four and a quarter-length victory over the Les Ross-trained Mishani Di Caprio ($8) after being eased towards the line.
Teofilo gelding Mishani Di Caprio was third to Wicked Intent the run before and so looked on the improve on Saturday even though he was beaten over four lengths.
Rounding out the Phelan Ready Stakes trifecta a distant 7.8 lengths off the runaway winner was then the Brad Herne-trained It’s Vegas Baby who was the next best to handle the Soft (6) rated track on Brisbane Handicap Day.
Having won the traditional lead-up race, Wicked Intent is now the firm $3.60 favourite in futures Magic Millions 2YO Classic betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au for the January 10 feature for Magic Millions graduates on the Gold Coast.
Retaining the ride from last time out jockey Chris Munce, Mitchell’s son-in-law, was confident post-Phelan Ready Stakes win that Wicked Intent was the type of young colt capable of winning the Magic Millions Classic.
“This horse has just continued to improve since he came into work in September,” Munce told the media on Saturday.
“The big thing about him is he is so adaptable.
“He can lead or he can sit on the pace. It is exactly the type of horse you need to win the Magic Millions.”
If he sticks with Wicked Intent in the 2015 Magic Millions 2YO Classic field, Munce will be shooting for his fourth win in the race.
His previous Magic Millions Classic winners were: Sunblazer (1989), Exellerator (2001) and most recently Dance Hero (2004) a decade ago.
A $16,000 bargain buy from the Magic Millions Yearling Sales, Wicked Intent is well on his way to stardom having now amassed a tidy $196,400 in prize money.
Mitchell confirmed Wicked Intent would head into the Magic Millions Classic via the $150,000 Group 3 BJ McLachlan Plate (1200m) run this year at the Gold Coast on December 27.
“That should top him off nicely for the big race,” he said.
“This horse just keeps surprising us with his improvement run after run.”
Also Magic Millions-bound after Saturday’s Doomben race results is the Liam Birchley-trained Flamenco who won the $100,000 Listed Calaway Gal Stakes (1050m).
Flamenco pays $21 to score an upset in the Gold Coast classic through Ladbrokes.com.au – your go-to bookie this Magic Millions Race Day!
