Ninja will put the finishing touches on his Magic Millions 3YO Guineas preparations with a maiden appearance at Stakes level this Saturday.
The gelded son of Farnan will contest the $300,000 Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) at Eagle Farm.
The MyRacehorse galloper, who has just four starts to his name, is favourite for the Magic Millions Guineas and trainer Michael Freedman is happy with the way the campaign is coming together.
“He’s great, he had a jumpout midweek last week at the Gold Coast just to keep his fitness up,” Freedman said.
“I’d always planned for him to go into Magic Millions Guineas third-up.
“Knowing that he was going to be four weeks between, that’s why he had the 1000-metre jumpout last week, just to keep him up to the mark.”
Ninja’s only start this campaign realised a third placing, beaten just half-a-length, in the 1200m Pierata Plate won by Grafterburners at Doomben on December 6.
Andrew Adkins was in the saddle that day but Tommy Berry goes aboard this weekend and Freedman’s biggest concern is how they overcome gate 12 in the field of 14.
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly out in gate 12, that’s a little bit of a concern and something he’s going to have to try and overcome, but the horse himself is in great form,” Freedman said.
Ninja was as short as $2.40 for the Vo Rogue Plate at 11am on Friday and how he performs there will determine whether he holds his place on the top line of betting for the Guineas at the Gold Coast on January 17.
