Talented three-year-old Mishani Bullitt will take the first step on the long road to a feature win at the Magic Millions carnival when he runs at Doomben.
Trainer Chris Anderson, as is the case with many of his rivals, is planning to attack the QTIS bonus races in Brisbane this spring rather than heading south.
The QTIS bonus races are on two and three-year-old events with first prize worth $65,000 rather than the $40,000 for other races.
It means they are among the most competitive races in Brisbane and Saturday’s Three-Year-Old Handicap (1350m) at Doomben is no exception.
Mishani Bullit confirmed his rating as one of Brisbane’s most promising horses when he beat older rivals at Doomben two weeks ago.
It was his first run since he ran fourth in the Group One J J Atkins Stakes (1600m) behind Capital Gain in June.
Anderson was impressed his recent win as he felt Mishani Bullitt may have needed a run to reach his top.
“He had 59 kilos and the horse he ran past (Capital Connection) is pretty handy. It was a good win and he will improve from there,” Anderson said.
“We can build him up to a 1600-metre race at Caloundra in six weeks time,” Anderson said.
At this stage he isn’t keen to take Mishani Bullitt interstate and would rather use the Brisbane races as a build-up to the Magic Millions carnival in January.
“His owner (Mike Crooks) is a big fan of the Magic Millions and the Guineas at that carnival is our aim,” Anderson said.
“But of course it all depends on the handicapper here. He is going up in the ratings and I don’t want him carrying crushing weights in local races,” .
Anderson said if that happened, Sydney would be the venue rather than Melbourne.
Mishani Bullitt is one of a dozen horses Anderson trains for Crooks, who runs a swimming pool company and also has a breeding operation at Mishani Farm near Beaudesert.
Anderson will have noted first-up specialist Mystic Opal in the Open Handicap (1200m) on Saturday.
Mystic Opal will be having her first run since finishing last in the Wayne Wilson Handicap on June 16.
The mare has won three of her four first-up runs and has an overall record of seven wins from 18 starts.
“She has had two trials and is coming along nicely,” Anderson said.
