The Robert Heathcote trained Release The Beans, who is currently placed nineteenth in the Order Of Entry for the $2 million Three-Year-Old Magic Millions Guineas, will take his place in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate at Doomben on Saturday where he will look to seal his place in the Magic Millions starting line-up.
“I was a bit frustrated when he ran third after such a tough run the other day,” said Heathcote. “He only just missed second … and second place would have probably have guaranteed him a start in the Magic Millions.
Heathcote was referring the Gold Edition Plate over 1200m where Release The Beans finished behind Me Me Lagarde and Far Too Easy when resuming after a four month break from racing action.
That was only the second time in six starts that Release the Beans has tasted defeat. He also finished third the last time he was beaten, a result which also came first up when he returned after a similar four month break following his debut win.
Release The Beans did put three wins in a row on the board, with Luke Dittman in the saddle, between those two third place finishes to underline his raw potential.
Effectively, he has yet to run a bad race having already won from 1000m to 1400m during his brief career but, with the lucrative Magic Millions carrot hanging within touching distance, the game has now just got that touch more serious.
“There is a lot of pressure again in the race this Saturday,” acknowledged Heathcote.
“A placing will get us in. Obviously Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s runner Shihonka is one to watch. They know what they are doing. They are very good at selecting the right horses for particular races.
“But, look, my guys is second-up. He is up to 1350m which is probably more beneficial than a sprint. Yeah, he is in the mix. His last run was good, but he has to replicate that.
“We were going with Brett Prebble … to go into the Vo Rogue Plate and then, if all went well, into the Magic Millions.
“That choice of rider had nothing against Luke (Dittman) but was based on the fact that Prebble is a top international rider who has recently won the Caulfield Cup and run second in the Melbourne Cup. We thought if we could get him, we would get him.
“At the end of the day, racing is a tough world. Luke understands that … but then Prebble gets suspended and now Luke gets another opportunity … and good luck to him.
“The horse has done virtually everything asked of him, yet he still flies under the radar a bit, but the Magic Millions is looming.
“It’s worth big dollars and you simply have to go there is you have the opportunity.”
