He’s just 12-months into his training venture, but former jockey Ryan Hill hopes the spotlight will shine on his stable at Pinjarra on Saturday.
Aiming for his biggest payday, Guarding Heaven and Ofcourse She Has will step out in the $250,000 Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (1200m).
Guarding Heaven has not broken her maiden status but has been competitive in all three starts against some better performed Perth juveniles this season.
On debut last October she ran second to Brave Halo, a Brave Smash colt who remained undefeated in Perth before being taken to Melbourne.
The Sean and Jake Casey trained two-year-old lost no admirers in his first Melbourne outing when fourth in the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) for colts and geldings at Sandown last week.
The effort behind Barber was good enough for owner Wally Daly to pay a $55,000 late entry fee for the Group 1 Blue Diamond (1200m) in a fortnight.
At her most recent run at Ascot, Guarding Heaven jumped out of the gates quickly and set a good tempo in front before fading to fourth.
She was overhauled in the straight by Magic Millions rivals A Lot Of Good Men, Champagne Street and Super Smink, beaten three lengths.
Guarding Heaven has drawn barrier 13 in the Magic Millions, the second widest gate and will be ridden by Brad Parnham.
In contrast to her previous run, Hill doesn’t anticipate Guarding Heaven will be hunted out of the barriers with any extra intent.
“The other day we just got caught somewhere we didn’t want to be,” Hill told Tabradio.
“I will leave it up to Brad, but I would think from the draw he would be going back and looking for cover.
“He leaves the training to me and I leave the riding to him, but I think that would be what he is doing.
“This has been the race that I’ve been aiming for all along, we’ll see if I can get one ready for her grand final.
“She had a gallop this morning (Tuesday) and I’m very happy with where she is at.
“One thing I know is she’ll run out a strong 1200m.”
Guarding Heaven will end her maiden campaign in the Magic Millions and although confident he can lay his hands on the rich prize purse available in the feature event, Hill believes there are bigger races on offer later for the Safeguard daughter.
“She’s going to be a three-year-old,” Hill said.
“Whatever we do now is a bonus.
“The owners are all very patient.
“Hopefully she can put her best foot forward, but definitely when she returns as a three-year-old we are going to have a lot of fun.”
Ofcourse She Has will jump from barrier three. Troy Turner takes the ride.
The War Chant filly is on the quick back up after her debut last week.
Off a trial four days earlier, she ran seventh to Odinaka, but didn’t have the best of runs in the straight.
Guarding Heaven is $23 in Tabtouch markets with Ofcourse She Has $51.
A Lot Of Good Men ($2.75) shades Super Smink ($3.00) for favouritism.
