One of the highlights of previous Ballarat Cup days was the staging of Victoria’s only right-handed race.
After nine running’s of the Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Clockwise Classic, the race reverts to a traditional left-handed race on Saturday.
This year’s Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic (1000m) has attracted a field of 12, short of the capacity field of 16 and four emergencies, of which only four horses have raced.
In previous years two-year-olds had to travel to Ballarat to qualify to run in the Clockwise Classic, but this year trainers have been able to prepare their horses as they normally would.
One of those that has raced is the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Kings Consort, a colt by Ilovethiscity, who finished third in a field of five on debut at Bendigo on October 16 but who has been back to the jump-outs in a bid to sharpen him up.
Sam Freedman said Kings Consort had come on from his debut run and is expecting the colt to feature prominently on Saturday.
Kings Consort is currently a $16 chance in betting with TAB.
“He’s learned a lot from Bendigo, and he gets the blinkers on,” Freedman said.
“He was a bit green, the small field didn’t suit him, and he was on and off the bridle the whole way.
“We’ve given him a trial, but it’s a competitive race and he should improve with the blinkers on.”
With the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast eight weeks from Saturday, Freedman said the stable would be guided by Kings Consort’s performance to determine in which direction they head.
A $32,000 purchase at the Magic Millions Sale in Adelaide earlier this year, Kings Consort is eligible to head to the Gold Coast.
“We’ll get a guide on where he goes on Saturday,” Freedman said.
“Whether he’s pushing on to Queensland or whether he’s just pushing on down here, we’ll see.”
