Trainer Brendan McCarthy will learn a lot more about the credentials of Murt The Flirt for the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas when he races interstate for the first time at Wyong.
Murt The Flirt impressed on debut at Ballarat last month with victory in the Magic Millions 3YO Classic (1100m), confirming plans to target the rich Gold Coast race next month.
McCarthy was keen for the gelding to get experience racing in the clockwise direction and pinpointed Thursday’s $100,000 Wyong Magic Millions 3YO Stakes (1200m) as the right option.
“We think the trip away will do him a lot of good and he’s handled everything very well,” McCarthy said.
“It’s a lot tougher race and I think we have to improve a few lengths to be competitive but I think there has been a significant amount of improvement in the horse since his first run.
“We thought it was very important to go up and have a race the other way around.”
McCarthy said the gelding had worked well in the clockwise direction.
He is at $5 for Thursday’s event with Echo Gal favourite at $2.70 ahead of Choice We Had $3.80.