John O’Shea’s stocks for the $2 million Magic Millions Guineas have soared after the in-form trainer produced the quinella in a key lead-up race at Wyong.
Hell I Am ($2.70 fav) overcame the outside draw to post a resounding first-up win in the Magic Millions Wyong 3YO & 4YO Stakes (1200m), surging clear over the final stages to defeat Shalailed ($3.90) by 1-1/2 lengths.
Oakfield Triumph ($81) flashed home from the rear for third, another three-quarters of a length away.
O’Shea stable representative Alex Maher confirmed the winner and runner-up are both on a path to next month’s Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast with Hell I Am now an equal favourite for the race at $8.
“They will have one more run before going and their grand finals will be up at the Gold Coast,” Maher said.
“They are both nice horses going forward.”
Hell I Am was partnered by James Mcdonald, who admitted he had concerns pre-race about the horse’s outside draw.
But when a couple of his rivals were sluggish to begin, McDonald was able to position Hell I Am in a one-out, one-back position.
“He was very quick away and it was a funny old start, there were a few that came out in dribs and drabs, but it worked out in our favour and we got a lovely run,” McDonald said.
“He has come on immensely and he felt terrific on that (good) ground as well.”
The Wyong result continued the O’Shea stable’s outstanding vein of form with Kirwan’s Lane downing barn mate Lion’s Roar in The Ingham on Saturday, and promising juvenile Saltaire claiming the Inglis Nursery on the same program.
