Noisy Ocean will launch his quest for next month’s Magic Millions Guineas at a low-key midweek meeting at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.
Trainer Bryan Guy expects a competitive performance from Noisy Ocean in the Racing Retro Handicap (1200m) but has warned the son of Shovhog won’t be fully wound up.
Noisy Ocean, a $15,000 buy at the Magic Millions January sales, has easily qualified for the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 14 with $266,000 in prizemoney.
“With that sort of prizemoney he’s easily qualified for the Magic Millions and I’m expecting him to be competitive tomorrow,” Guy said.
“But no matter what he does in this race he’s going to improve a lot.
“The Magic Millions isn’t on until next month and he’ll have time to run in a 1350-metre race at Doomben on Saturday fortnight before he goes for the big race.
“He’s got a few downsides first-up. It took him a couple of runs last campaign to find form and I’m not real happy with his coat at the moment.”
Noisy Ocean has not started since finishing second to Rocket To Glory in a Two-Year-Old Plate (1400m) at Eagle Farm on July 9, two weeks after being runner-up to the Paul Messara-trained Mahisara in the Listed Centenary Classic (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 25.
Mahisara was subsequently placed in the Listed Brian Crowley (1200m) at Randwick in October before campaigning in Melbourne where he went down in a photo-finish to Instinction in the Listed Hilton Hotel Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on November 5.
The youngster then finished fifth to So Swift in the Group Two Sandown Guineas (1600m) on November 12.
“He was only just beaten by Mahisara and was in front one stride past the post during the winter,” Guy said.
“Mahisara went on with it back south and hopefully the signs are good for Noisy Ocean.”
Larry Cassidy will continue his association with Noisy Ocean after passing a fitness test at Tuesday’s Doomben barrier trials.
Cassidy suffered rib cartilage injuries in a four-horse fall at Doomben last Wednesday which left apprentice Priscilla Schmidt hospitalised with a broken leg and punctured lung.
“I haven’t ridden trackwork since the fall and I probably won’t for about three weeks,” Cassidy said.
“I’m still a bit sore but I rode General Secretary in a barrier trial today and pulled up well enough.
“I was able to pull the stick on him and gave him two backhanders around the rump.”
AAP TURF
