Developing stayer San Telmo needs only to race well at Doomben to confirm he will be trainer Brad Smith’s first Magic Millions carnival runner.
San Telmo will be having his second start this campaign in Saturday’s New Year’s Eve Raceday Hcp (2020m).
The gelding has been a star for Smith since joining his Deagon stable in June.
He has won twice and been minor placed four times in six starts with the latest a first-up second at Eagle Farm two weeks ago.
Smith bought San Telmo, who was originally trained by Anthony Cummings, at a Sydney dispersal sale.
“He has won at 2200 metres in Brisbane and was placed at 2400 in Sydney. He races like a stayer because he usually settles and has a good turn of foot at the finish,” Smith said.
“The only time he over-raced was at his last start before a spell when it was slowly run and he got up outside the leader. But provided he gets cover he is hard to beat.”
Smith has always had the Magic Millions Stayers Cup in the back of his mind for San Telmo.
“The Stayers Cup will suit him. I don’t know what is coming from the south because there was a bit of confusion about how far it was going to be – 2200 or 1800 metres,’ Smith said.
“Either distance suits us and I am looking forward to having my first Millions runner.”
