The road to the Magic Millions begins in Sydney on Saturday for former Tasmanian More Awesome.
Now trained at Caulfield by Brendan McCarthy, More Awesome will make his debut for his new trainer in the Action Business Coach Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill.
McCarthy confirmed More Awesome was headed towards the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 14 with Saturday an important stepping stone.
“The idea is to push on to the Magic Millions in Queensland which is why we’re going there (Rosehill) on Saturday,” McCarthy said.
“We want to give him a go the other way around (clockwise) and then we’ll continue on our way up.”
More Awesome did his early racing under trainer Dean Wells, winning two juvenile races in Tasmania and notching a stakes placing behind the smart Golden Archer in the Listed Gold Sovereign Stakes at Launceston in February.
He travelled to Adelaide and won their Magic Millions 2YO Classic in March but failed to fire in two winter runs in Melbourne, including an eighth to Sepoy in the Vain Stakes.
McCarthy said an underlying back problem may have been the reason More Awesome under-performed in Victoria.
“He had a few back issues and I work on horses with problem backs. I do that for a number of other trainers as well,” McCarthy said.
“That’s probably why I was given the horse.
“He has done incredibly well and he’s a lovely little horse.
“He’s taking on a couple of pretty smart ones but I think he’ll be right up there.
“He’s got natural speed and a really tenacious approach.”
More Awesome and stablemate Nice And Neat will leave Melbourne on Wednesday night bound for Sydney.
Nice And Neat, who will resume in Saturday’s Guaranteed $1 Million TAB BIG6 Handicap (1200m), was successful at Rosehill in July and has won first-up.
However, McCarthy was hoping for a better barrier than 10 in the field of 13.
“I would have liked to see him draw a barrier,” McCarthy said.
“He’s done really well. He is probably better than he was last preparation.”
Daniel Ganderton, who hails from Tasmania and has ridden More Awesome three times for a win and two thirds, will partner him while apprentice Andrew Stead has picked up the mount on Nice And Neat.
AAP TURF
