Lloyd Kennewell hasn’t been taken in by La Pomme De Pin’s crushing victory in a Magic Millions lead-in race at Ballarat, saying the filly must prove herself again to guarantee a trip to the Gold Coast.
Although ranked No.1 in the order of entry for the $2 million 2YO Classic (1200m) on January 13 after winning the Clockwise Classic (1000m) by 5-1/2 lengths last month, the filly needs to put in a similar performance at Wyong on Thursday.
La Pomme De Pin has to impress in the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1100m) or she will return to Kennewell’s base at Morphettville in Adelaide.
“You’ve got to be running a very good race to warrant going to the Gold Coast, where you’ll need everything going on an upward spiral,” Kennewell said.
“Number one in the order of entry doesn’t mean too much to me.
“She’s got to show us that she deserves a spot in the line-up and that she’s well, fit and ready to go. There’s no point having a tired horse up there.”
La Pomme De Pin won at Ballarat after running second on debut at Morphettville in October.
“She’s a nice filly. She’s doing everything right. She’s obviously a bit of a natural two-year-old,” Kennewell said.
“All she’s ever had was one jump-out leading into her first start. She’s been a push-button horse since day one. She knows what she’s doing.”
Kennewell also has Senor Gaudi starting in the Wyong Magic Millions 3YO & 4YO Stakes (1200m) in a bid to make the field for the Magic Millions Sprint over the same distance.
The four-year-old was third in the corresponding 3YO & 4YO race at Ballarat to give Kennewell hope despite Senor Gaudi again having to carry 59kg.
“It’s a horrible weight but he’s a really capable galloper. He’ll push a fair few of them,” he said.
