Well-bred gelding A Man To Match is on the road to a career as a stayer in the $250,000 The Wave over 1800 metres at the Gold Coast.
The Wave is a new race on Saturday restricted to three and four-year-olds and carries a wild card entry into the Magic Millions Trophy (2400m).
A Man To Match is bred along staying lines being by High Chaparral out of Pregrada but only three of his 20 starts have been beyond 2000m.
Trainer Tony Gollan has already tried him over ground with the gelding third in the 3Y0 Stayers Final (2200m) and a fifth in the Group Three Group Grand Prix (2200m) last season.
A Man To Match ran 17th in the Group One Queensland Derby (2400m).
“That was no guide to him as a stayer as he pulled up with arrhythmia,” Gollan said.
“I have always had an opinion of him over some ground and his fourth behind The Candy Man last time at 1800 metres was good.”
“But it is getting towards the time to determine his future.”
Gollan said provided A Man To Match ran well on Saturday he would get his chance in the Magic Millions Trophy.
“I don’t think he will need the wild card. He is Magic Millions eligible anyway so there is no pressure,” Gollan said.
“But if he doesn’t do what we want on Saturday there is a 1800 metre race on Magic Millions day which will suit him.”
Gollan will also have recent stable acquisition Mahis Angel in $250k The Wave.
Mahis Angel was bred in Queensland by hobby breeder Harry Pratt but did his early racing with trainer Lloyd Kennewell in Melbourne where he won three races up to 2200m.
“He should be suited getting back out to 1800 metres,” Gollan said.
