Trainer Will Hulbert plans to have a good day out at the Magic Millions race-day at the Gold Coast on Saturday, whatever the result of the $2 million Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic, but if Heroic Son, the horse he co-trains with his father Peter, were to win the big one the day will go from good to ‘lookout’ as the celebration could reach epic proportions even by Magic Millions celebration standards.
And Hulbert is happy about Heroic Son’s chances.
Heroic Son kicked off his career in very promising fashion. He was a winner on debut and then finished a close up second in his follow-up start.
On paper his two subsequent efforts … a third and a fifth placing … do not look that encouraging, but Hulbert is quick to pointy out the flaws in that argument.
“The run on the poly track (in which heroic Son finished third) … you can just forget about,” offered Hulbert. “He hated the poly track. He never went a yard on it. Adin (Thompson) said he didn’t even feel right on it cantering to the barrier. I’d just put a pen through that one.
‘Then, in his last run last Saturday … it was a pretty rough-house race. I think he should have won or at least run second. It was a super effort.”
Heroic Son was held wide in the running and was reported to be hanging out in the first half of the race … and then suffered significant interference, albeit very late in the running, with Adin Thompson having to take hold and stop riding inside the final 100m when Heroic Son was badly squeezed between runners.
“‘Obviously, the horse is still lightly raced and, when the horse on my inside half run off the track, my horse got a bit scared himself and run off,” said Adin Thompson explained what happened in last week’s run, “but he has never done that before so I’m just hoping it doesn’t turn into a habit.
“He was fine once we straightened. He briefly hit a bit of a flat spot when he looked ready to explode and then obviously there was a bit of carnage up the straight. There was one on my inside and one on my outside who shut the doors on me which cost me a little bit.
‘In a way it was quite of a good thing, because the horse had five weeks between runs, so we didn’t want to send him out there for a gut-buster, knowing that we had to back up on Saturday … so, realistically, it was probably a God-blessing really. He blew the steam off and, yeah, he should be ready for Saturday now.’
“I think he will be right in it on Saturday,” agreed Hulbert.
“I actually think it is a very even field and whoever gets the best run will win the race.
“We’ve drawn perfectly. If the emergencies don’t get a run, we come into barrier seven. That’s just perfect. You would almost have handpicked that beforehand.”
“Very happy to have Adin (Thompson) on.” (Thompson is the only apprentice to snare a ride in the Classic).
“A few managers did call about the ride … not a huge number, but we were always going with Adin. He is the stable apprentice and you got to stick solid.
“You have got to give the kid a go in a really big race sometime. All of the high-profile jockeys that ride all the big winners … they all got an opportunity when they were young, so we think Adin deserves his chance.”
For his part Thompson is ready for the challenge.
“No, I’m not going to feel any real tension,” said Thompson. “I’ve ridden in Quality races before … I’ve ridden in Group 2’s and Group 3’s.
“The first time I rode in a big race it was quite intimidating, but you learn. The experience just makes you a lot mentally tougher and smarter.
“I get excited going into these races because I get so much out of it riding with all of these top jockeys. Some of the tricks they can pull are pretty amazing.
“It’s just a big learning curve. you go home and have a think about it and it helps put you up to the next step when
“This is probably the biggest race I’ve ridden in … but I know the horse.
“We got a really good draw. Obviously, there is going to be a lot of speed in the race so, hopefully, I can let him fall asleep a little bit and tack on behind something that is decent.
“To win would be amazing, but if we finish in the first half of the field we’ll be happy.”
