Record-breaker bound for Magic Millions
RACING: Paul Butterworth is weighing up his options with talented entire Wonder Boom after a dominant victory at Allman Park on Wednesday.
The four-year-old produced a track record time of 1:02.23 over the six furlongs at Warwick when saluting in the Freestone Feedlot Magic Millions Country Cup Qualifier (1200m).
Starting on the third line of betting, apprentice Madeline Wishart was able to slot Wonder Boom ($5) midfield behind a quick tempo up front.
Upon turning, favourite Tycoon Ace ($2) momentarily hit the front, but was no match for the winner, going down by a length and a half, with All Important ($3.60) a further two lengths back in fourth.
With just 51kg on his back after the claim of Wishart and a frantic pace put on by the leaders, Butterworth said it wasn’t a surprise to see the entire rattle home in record time.
“He runs unbelievable time at home. He can almost break 10 seconds (over 200m) off a strong gallop at home,” the Eagle Farm-based trainer said.
“He’s always been a nice horse but has been his worst enemy at times, wanting to go full steam ahead.
“I told Madeleine to drop her hands and let him settle midfield, and she couldn’t have ridden him any better.
“When they found the pinch at the turn he was running into the bridle.”
Butterworth said while the logical option is to progress to the $250,000 Magic Millions Country Cup at the Gold Coast next month, the door remained open for the $1,000,000 QTIS Quality Handicap.
“He’s qualified for the Country Cup, but he’s also eligible for the QTIS race over 1300m, so we’ll throw in a nomination for that as well,” Butterworth said.
“The Country Cup is only eligible for horses that haven’t won a metro race, so that will be right up his alley, and I think he’ll be in the thick of things there.
“If we happened to go to the QTIS race we would need a weaker field than years past.”
Toowoomba trainer Tony Sears had a successful day out with Real Patriot and Ruby Rush getting the job done.