Former handy Victorian sprinter Magnus Lad has been given every chance to adapt to the clockwise way of racing ahead of his Doomben debut.
Magnus Lad won five of his 14 starts for trainer Wez Hunter and was competitive in some of Victoria’s better sprints on the provincial circuit.
The gelding, which cost only $6000 at the Tasmanian yearling sales, tallied up $174,000 in prize money thanks to placings in feature races such as the Listed Wangoom Handicap and the Hareeba Stakes at Mornington.
He was transferred to premier Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan after the Wangoom run with the idea of tackling Brisbane’s summer sprint series.
Gollan has taken his time getting Magnus Lad accustomed to the reverse way of going in Brisbane before he runs in Saturday’s Gorman Removals Open (1050m).
“He is a big, gangly sort of bloke and I have given him a couple of jump-outs to get him used to the clockwise way of going,” Gollan said.
“Magnus Lad seems to have settled in well but races are obviously different to jump-outs.
“They might be a bit slick for him at the 1000 metres around Doomben but he should race well.”
Gollan believes Magnus Lad can be competitive in the Brisbane summer sprint series.
“He will get at least the 1200 metres of a race like the Keith Noud Quality but he might struggle a bit when the races get to 1350 metres,” Gollan said.
Stablemate Traveston Girl is on trial for a Melbourne trip in the Vertica Capital Plate (1200m).
Traveston Girl was this week named Queensland’s three-year-old of the year, due in large part to her second in the 2014 Group One Thousand Guineas.
She raced well in the winter, being twice stakes placed, without winning.
The mare has had the benefit of a jump-out and Gollan believes she is near her best for her return.
“Traveston Girl has drawn a bad barrier and that will be no help,” he said.
“But provided she races well I will take her to Melbourne for a mares race at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.”
