Regimental Pride’s Magic Millions campaign has been aborted with the focus now on the Golden Slipper.
The son of 2003 Magic Millions winner Regimental Gal finished eighth in last week’s major lead-up at Wyong and trainer David Payne said the tight track brough him undone.
The futility of running him on a similar circuit at the Gold Coast has prompted Payne to pull the pin.
“The jockey got off and said he didn’t handle the tight turns at Wyong,” Payne said.
“It’s the same at the Gold Coast and there’s no point going up there if he can’t win it.
“He’s in the paddock for a couple of weeks and he will go to the Slipper instead of the Magic Millions.
“The tracks in Sydney will suit him better.”
Regimental Pride ignited Magic Millions aspirations with his win at Rosehill on December 15 in a race made tricky by a riderless horse.
Assail, winner of the Magic Millions race at Wyong, is favourite for the $2 million race for two-year-olds on January 12 but will need a new jockey.
Peter Robl will miss almost a month’s racing after being suspended at Warwick Farm on Saturday with that ban coming on top of one incurred a week earlier.
Assail’s trainer Clarry Conners said he had fielded calls from “near and far” but would not make a decision in haste.
“I’m a major shareholder but I will talk to the other owners before a decision is made,” he said.
“I’ll think it over carefully. There are plenty of riders to choose from.”
