Victorian trainer Jason Warren is looking to continue his affinity with Sydney when he heads to Rosehill to enact the next stage of a long-range Magic Millions plan with La Tigeresa and Wildwood Jade.
The mares contest separate races at Rosehill on Saturday with La Tigeresa running in the Elderton Homes Made You Look Sprint (1100m) while Wildwood Jade resumes in the Schweppes Handicap (1200m).
The pair familiarised themselves with Rosehill in barrier trials on Monday and are using Sydney as an important stepping stone to the Magic Millions carnival in January.
La Tigeresa is being prepared for the $1 million Magic Millions Fillies and Mares race over 1300 metres, while the goal for Wildwood Jade hinges on her Rosehill performance.
If she wins, she will join her stablemate in the Gold Coast race on January 11, if not she will run a week earlier in the $250,000 Magic Millions Country Cup (1200m).
Warren regards both horses as serious chances on Saturday.
“Even if we hadn’t planned to come to Queensland with them, these races would still be more suitable than the races they would have found themselves in down in Melbourne,” Warren said.
“They were two nice races to bring them up for. They get in very well at the weights.”
A winner at Moe two starts ago, La Tigeresa was runner-up to Teleplay in a Group Three, 1400-metre race at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.
Warren has given her an easy time since then and says she is sharp enough to be competitive over a shorter distance.
“She probably peaked on her run over 1400 at Flemington on Cup day,” Warren said.
“I feel 1300 is probably her right trip but in saying that, we have freshened her up since that run at Flemington to bring her back in distance. She will sprint well.”
Wildwood Jade has not raced since struggling on rain-affected ground at Sandown in August and three of her four wins have been fresh from a spell.
“She’s always shown good ability with a bit of mixed form but she didn’t handle a heavy track last start at Sandown so it was no real guide on her,” Warren said.
Warren used Sydney as a Magic Millions stepping stone 12 months ago with Bel Sonic, who finished a narrow second to Easy Eddie at Warwick Farm, and Miss Toorak Flyer who was runner-up to Deprive at Randwick.
He has also enjoyed feature race success during other forays north, a trend he hopes La Tigeresa and Wildwood Jade can continue.
I’ve had really good luck in Sydney,” Warren said.
“I won a Galaxy a few years back with Bel Sprinter and The Barrister won a Listed race one year over the carnival.
“I feel the races they’re in on Saturday are very suitable. “
