Wicked Intent was super last weekend in the Group 2 $175,000 Champagne Classic (1200m). He exceeded all expectations for the stable and I can’t say enough how above and beyond he was for us.
With good speed in the race, he didn’t get a soft time of it and he held good speed to the line. He really showed terrific courage and form, and pulled up great.
Can you tell I’m rapt with him? I would have been delighted if he finished in the top six as it was a strong race. He did so well.
He’ll go on to the 2015 BRC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) in a week on May 23, and while we are very much taking things one race at a time, there’s the possibility of the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m), if he shows he can get the mile. He still has to prove that.
I was asked what I might be hoping for from him, should everything go to plan. If everything does go to plan, I’d love to give him a shot in Melbourne or Sydney’s Spring Carnival races.
We’ve looked after him back at home. He hasn’t been overworked like some of the other two-year olds. We’ve raced him sparingly, and hoped he’d be able to take the next step as a serious horse.
**
Pornichet was the best of them from last weekend for me. He went super, and is the best Doomben Cup winner since Might and Power. He’s a good horse, a very good horse. He had them beat a long way out.
There’s not too many horses who go from a Toowoomba Cup to a Doomben Cup, and I can’t think of any that have taken that route to a Cox Plate. Gai’s had him improve out of sight in the prep with her and it looks like he’ll get a run in one.
The Scone Cup is on again today and hasn’t that come a long way? It’s a great track and has proven a good track for me as a rider.
The carnival is obviously now bulging with prizemoney across the two days and it deserves it.
My best Scone Cup memory was back in 2003. I’d agreed to ride an outsider on the Cup. His name was Full On Magic. He was trained by Wyong trainer by Louise Munce, and they bred him as well. I’d actually jumped on a plane to get to Scone and got airsick as we landed, with the flight into Scone always a bumpy one.
Full On Magic had drawn barrier 18 and was 20-1, or even longer. I wasn’t even sure I was up to it but I saddled him up and Louise and her husband Alan (a second cousin, they tell me!) told me to go back on him and hopefully make a run down the middle of the straight.
We jumped and there was no pace in the race, at all. I was determined to make something happen. I pushed him to the front mid-race and he was in front to the turn. He held on to win, making Louise the first, and to this day, the only female trainer to have won the Cup.
I told Louise at the time that I was sure she’d be “blowing up” when she saw me taking him to the front, but I had to make something happen! It was a great day.
Full On Magic later went on to win the Hawkesbury Rowley Mile and he’s still in Louise’s paddock back at their home.
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Luckless Perplexity takes on the $200,000 Listed Caloundra Cup. He’s been looking for the mile and a half.
There isn’t really any trick to winning a Caloundra Cup, it’s a genuine distance and I have booked Jeff Lloyd to ride him to get him in a forward position.
The only thing I’m worried about for him is the weather! He prefers a dry track so we’ll be hoping there’s no rain.
(The Roar spoke with Alan Munce to confirm the 2003 Scone Cup win – a day he says he’ll never forget!)
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