Unbeaten colt Amorino further cemented his claims for the Magic Millions Classic in his lead-up run at Rosehill on Saturday when he became the first two-year-old to win two races in Sydney this season.
Trainer Gerald Ryan said he was more confident than he ever had been in the past about the prospect of landing his first win in the $2 million race at the Gold Coast in two weeks.
Ridden by Jim Cassidy, Amorino ($2.05 fav) had to work hard at the beginning and the end of the race but still prevailed over Mrs Gray ($17) by a length with another three-quarters of a length to Lady Colours ($26) third.
“I’m going to the Gold Coast the most confident I have ever been,” Ryan said.
“He’s a very nice horse and he’s still got improvement in him.
“Jimmy was confident after he rode him work on Tuesday that he was on the best horse in the race.
“He was out of his comfort zone today and has done it at both ends. It was a great effort.”
Cassidy said he wouldn’t want to be on any other runner in the Magic Millions.
“He’s very professional and genuinely tough,” he said.
“He doesn’t have real brilliant speed like some of the Snitzels but I was very impressed with him today.”
The win brought up a race-to-race double for Cassidy who came back from suspension last Saturday with a winning double.
The 48-year-old shows no signs of slowing down and drew high praise from trainer Tim Martin after he steered Cinderockinrella to victory in the Vinery Stud (1200m).
The filly was sent out at $5.50 and accounted for My Cherie ($7) by half a length with an identical margin to Subarc ($5).
“Jimmy was at the top when Mick Dittman and Ron Quinton were riding,” Martin said.
“His dedication is second to none and if he’s not the best jockey in Australia he’s the second best.
“He is so driven.”
My Cherie’s jockey Shaun Guymer was the subject of an objection from Glyn Schofield aboard her Chris Waller-trained stablemate Subarc over interference at the start.
My Cherie veered left out of the barrier taking Subarc wide.
Schofield said although Subarc was a backmarker he had been given too much to do.
“It’s taken the wind out of my sails,” he said.
“He was under vigorous riding from the word go.”
“Do you want to talk for or against or just sit on the fence?” chief steward Ray Murrihy asked the trainer who diplomatically put the case for both sides.
The protest was dismissed after a lengthy discussion among stewards.
“This was debated robustly by the stewards,” Murrihy told Schofield.
“But we can’t be satisfied it cost you second placing.”
AAP TURF
