A lack of early-season two-year-old numbers has enticed connections to continue the campaign of promising youngster The Wildman.
The Wildman took his prize money to $86,000 from two starts after he scored an impressive, albeit erratic, win at Doomben last Saturday and has continued to please trainer Mick Mair since.
Eligible for a QTIS bonus, the gelding will take home another $66,100 if he can win the Brisbane Marriott Hotel Handicap (1050m) at Doomben on Saturday.
The Wildman will have eight rivals and will carry less weight than he carted to his last win after apprentice Luke Tarrant’s 1.5kg claim.
“He isn’t a Magic Millions horse so Plan A was to spell him after last week’s win. But it would be silly not to take advantage of the early-season quiet period for two-year-olds,” owner-breeder Neville Bell said.
“And the prize money is pretty tempting as well.
“We will probably make a final decision on Friday but provided he continues to please Mick he will be going around.”
Bell stands The Wildman’s sire Champions Gallery and the juvenile’s form has attracted attention to the stallion.
“Champions Gallery is by Dansili and has one of the best bloodlines of any stallion in Australia. The Wildman has helped get his name out there,” Bell said.
The Wildman is an odds-on favourite in early TAB fixed odds markets but there has been an early betting move for first starter Supersay.
The Tony Gollan-trained filly opened at $6.50 with most corporate bookmakers but has been backed into as short as $3.50 with some.
Supersay is by first season sire Rothesay and has not trialled officially but she was reportedly impressive in a jump-out.
