Talented three-year-old Aquatorial served notice to his Magic Millions Guineas rivals in January with a sizzling victory at Eagle Farm.
Aquatorial stormed home from last on the home turn for an effortless three-quarters of a length win over Inventory in Wednesday’s www.brc.com.au Handicap (1000m).
The manner of Aquatorial’s win surprised trainer Ron Macrae and so did the gelding’s sensational time of 56.43 seconds which was only 0.44 seconds outside Toowoomba flyer Azzaland’s track record set in January last year.
“He got back further than I wanted but he hit the line strongly,” Macrae said.
“I’ve been teaching him to settle in his races but he probably settled too well today.”
Aquatorial, a $50,000 buy, is a half-brother to Macrae’s former useful sprinter Bonza Crop who was euthanased after snapping his near-side foreleg in a two-horse fall at Eagle Farm in June 2007.
The son of Oratorio had not started for more than two months but Macrae opted to bring him to Brisbane instead of giving him a barrier trial on the cushion track in Toowoomba.
Aquatorial is unbeaten in two starts on cushion tracks but Macrae feels the artificial surface causes him to jar up in the shoulder.
Macrae will use the rich summer three-year-old features as lead-up races to the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 14.
“Provided he eats up well after today I’ll back him up in 10 days in an 1100-metre race at Eagle Farm,” Macrae said.
“It was a good effort considering he hadn’t trialled before this and had three weeks out in the paddock.
“I want to give him four runs if possible before the Magic Millions.”
Two likely options will be the Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m) at Eagle Farm on December 17 before the Group Three Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at Doomben on December 31.
Macrae has always had a good opinion of Aquatorial despite his small stature.
“He showed ability from day one and even though he’s not real big he’s all heart,” he said.
Meanwhile, the final three races were delayed while 300 metres of the false running rail was shifted in three metres following complaints from several senior riders.
Stewards, along with Brisbane Racing Club chairman Kevin Dixon, chief executive Steve Ferguson and track manager Bill Shuck, inspected the old 600-metre crossing after some jockeys complained their horses dipped badly in previous races.
“The crossing area clearly drops away but it’s only because the rail was more than 10 metres out,” Dixon said.
The meeting proceeded after a section of the false rail from the 700 metres to 400 metes was moved inwards.
AAP TURF
