Wicked Intent will be trainer Chris Munce’s first interstate runner, confirming a trip to Sydney with his third under a big weight at Doomben.
Wicked Intent had to lump 60kg when third to the flying filly Blue Desert Moon and Secret Saga in a three-year-old handicap over 1050m on Saturday.
The former champion jockey, who took out a trainer’s licence in January, said it was hard not to be happy with Wicked Intent’s effort.
“He gave the winner eight kilograms and the second horse six and he never gave up. I am not whingeing about the weight because he had earned it,” Munce said.
“But it was still a big ask. Also the winner ran home in 33.8 seconds for the final 600 metres which was very fast for the day.”
Wicked Intent is now headed to the Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 3 and, if he races well, the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 31 comes into play.
The colt has won four of his nine races and was an unlucky sixth in the Magic Millions Classic in January when ridden by Munce on his final day as a jockey.
Fellow trainer Tony Gollan is playing his cards close to his chest with Secret Saga who came from last.
“I have a few options at the back of my mind but I want to see how she is this week before committing to anything,” he said.
Jockey Jim Byrne was impressed with Secret Saga’s effort.
“She was bouncing around in the barriers and then when she jumped slowly I had to throw the instructions out the window and go back to last,” Byrne said.
“It was a very good run as she would have run very fast time for her final 600 metres.”
Blue Desert Moon is now unbeaten in three starts with trainer Tony Sears is likely to look for another short course race in Brisbane.
