Family ties to the great Black Caviar will ensure Iconic is the focus of extra attention in Saturday’s feature two-year-old race at Bendigo.
Iconic’s trainer Tony McEvoy insists the last-start winner shouldn’t be spoken of in the same breath as the unbeaten superstar but he is really pleased with the youngster ahead of the race he’s been aimed at.
Iconic lines up in the $250,000 Gold Rush (1000m) and got experience at the Bendigo track with a win last month at his second start.
The gelding is by Black Caviar’s sire Bel Esprit and is out of Danavia who is a half-sister to Black Caviar’s dam Helsinge.
McEvoy admitted there was likely to be some attention on Iconic given his breeding.
“He’s done a good job so far and was actually a bit stiff to run into a wet track at his first start,” McEvoy said.
McEvoy took the two-year-old to Bendigo last month where he won a 900m maiden by 1-1/4 lengths against two rivals with Glen Boss aboard.
Boss rides favourite Ms Funovits on Saturday with Craig Williams to partner Iconic who has drawn “perfectly” in barrier six.
McEvoy and connections decided not to try to qualify Iconic for the Blue Diamond Stakes in preference to targeting the Bendigo race which is restricted to VOBIS Gold horses.
“This has been a long-range plan,” McEvoy said.
“I had a discussion with (part-owner and breeder) Rob Crabtree and he wanted to go for the Blue Diamond but I was keen to dodge that and go the easier route.
“I expect this to be easier anyway.”
Iconic won a barrier trial at Gawler last week to keep him ticking over for Saturday’s race.
The John Sadler-trained Ms Funovits, winner of her only start at Flemington in January where she defeated Thermal Current, is at $2.60 with TAB fixed odds ahead of the Matt Laurie-trained Se Sauver at $3.20.
Iconic is on the third line of betting at $9.
Se Sauver finished a nose behind another Sadler-trained youngster in Go Again in track record time over 900m on debut last week.
McEvoy also has Swipeline in the $150,000 Bendigo Guineas (1400m) while import Sysmo, second emergency in a 1300m handicap, gains a start with two horses already scratched from the race.
