Military Rose moves up the ranks
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Military Rose (outside) marches towards the Magic Millions with another victory (Noel Pascoe photo)
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Military Rose has continued her own personal fortunes posting a win in each of her three starts. The latest being the Listed $150,000 Racetree B J McLachlan Stakes 2YO Plate at Doomben on Saturday, December 26.
This now has the two-year-old staring straight down the barrel at the $2 million BMW Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 9 as she tops the order of entry list with $192,000 in prizemoney.
The filly, by General Nediym out of Bella Maddelena, has also enhanced dramatically the success of in form Gold Coast trainer Gillian Heinrich.
In turn, Heinrich is also eyeing off a showdown with fellow female trainers, Sydney’s Gai Waterhouse and Rockhampton’s Julie Green, who will offer stiff competition in the Magic Millions feature race.
Plenty of Magic Millions hopefuls were outlasted by the boom two-year-old, Military Rose, who snuck down the outside of the track to steal a tough victory and proved to handle the wet track with aplomb.
This was Military Rose’s first crack at the 1200 metre trip and has her primed for an assault on the same distance at the Gold Coast.
Especially pleasing for Heinrich was the fact she raced off the pace and came from behind, which differs from her previous two starts which have seen her either lead or take the sit.
“Now we know she is very versatile,” Heinrich said. “In the Magic Millions it doesn’t really matter if she draws a barrier and leads or if she gets back. She has shown she can do it both ways. I’m over the moon with her.”
Stathi Katsidis has ridden Military Rose for her last two wins and looks a near certainty to ride the filly in the $2 million 2YO Classic.
He had nothing but praise for the two-year-old who had showed she can overcome plenty to produce a win.
“She’s completed three hurdles today and done it in brilliant fashion,” Katsidis said, who refers to the wet track, increased distance and altered racing position.
“At one stage down the straight she looked like she was only going to run second, but she dug deep to find some reserves that I didn’t even know was there.”
“She’s definitely Magic Millions material.”
Marking Time, who looked to have the race all sewn up, deserves mention for his performance as he entrenched himself high on the order of entry for the $2 million Magic Millions with a long head second behind Military Rose.
Ridden by Shane Scriven for another Gold Coast trainer in Alan Bailey, Marking Time now boasts $126,500 in prizemoney from only four starts, and includes $56,000 in QTIS and QTIS 600 added stakes.
Startsmeup (Jim Byrne) in third place has given trainer Bruce Hill a late charge towards the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, but has a nervous wait as a log jam is beginning to occur for an acceptance to the rich feature race.
Hill should be encouraged by the two-year-old gelding’s form after backing up from a win at Doomben only seven days prior to again put in a gutsy display to hold on after racing on the pace for the distance in only his second race start.
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Ross Dowd – December 29
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