Trainer Gillian Heinrich will roll the dice again in a bid to secure her third starter for next month’s $2 million Magic Millions Classic with stablemates Lord Lonhro and Pure Reality at Doomben.
Heinrich, who won the Magic Millions Classic with Military Rose in 2010, currently has Military Bride and Pure Whisper qualified for the 1200-metre feature at the Gold Coast on January 14.
First starters Lord Lonhro, a $46,000 buy, and Pure Reality who cost $70,000, will lock horns in Saturday’s SkyRacing.TV Handicap (1110m) and need to win to become Heinrich’s third Magic Millions runner.
The Heinrich-trained Sunset Affair will also attempt a last-minute qualification when the filly clashes with Pure Whisper and Military Bride in the Group Three BJ McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday week.
Heinrich has a good opinion of Lord Lonhro and considered starting the son of Lonhro in last Saturday’s Listed Phelan Ready Stakes (1000m) at Eagle Farm.
“I just thought they would run him off his feet over 1000 metres so I waited a week for this race,” Heinrich said.
“The extra distance will suit him better and will allow him a bit more time to find his feet.
“He’s a big boy who already is about 16.2 hands. When I first saw him I thought no way he’d make a Magic Millions horse because of his size but he’s really come on.”
Heinrich’s main concern with Lord Lonhro is his inexperience.
“I’m worried about his experience and he’s still too leggy for my liking but if he finds his feet he’ll race well,” she said.
Heinrich also has a good opinion of Pure Reality who has taken significant improvement from a recent jumpout.
Heinrich was critical of metropolitan prizemoney levels which she believes disadvantage Queensland two-year-olds.
“My other two Military Bride and Pure Whisper are only just qualified and they might need more prizemoney yet depending on how some of the others fare in the coming weeks,” she said.
“Sydney and Melbourne horses get a bigger bite at the cherry than we do because of the difference in prizemoney.
“To be guaranteed a place in the Magic Millions our horses just about have to win two races to Sydney and Melbourne’s one which is unfair.”
AAP TURF
