Tycoon trying to tread a Magic path
TRAINERS Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes will attempt to follow the lead of the brilliant filly Sunlight into the Magic Millions via Saturday’s Aquis Gold Nugget (1100m) at the Gold Coast.
Sunlight won the 2018 Magic Millions 2YO Classic seven days after an easy win at the Gold Coast circuit while Exhilarates followed the same program a year later. Hayes and Dabernig will attempt the same feat with Finance Tycoon.
“Tony McEvoy did it with Sunlight. She was exceptionally good but Godolphin have also had success doing it,” Dabernig said.
Finance Tycoon posted a win and a second down the Flemington straight in his two spring runs.
Saturday’s $125,000 assignment will be the Written Tycoon colt’s first race around a turn.
Dabernig said winning Saturday’s race would exceed expectations but it was vital for Finance Tycoon to have a look at the Gold Coast track before Saturday week’s $2 million showpiece.
“We’re looking to run him a week before the Magic Millions as a bit of an experiment,” Dabernig said.
“That track at the Gold Coast, it can produce many a hard-luck story but we thought we’d give him a spin around there under less pressure on Saturday and he’ll improve with the run.
“If wins it would be a bonus as long as he runs well and pulls up well, that would be the main criteria.”
Dabernig said Finance Tycoon has been in Queensland since last Wednesday.
He said the early arrival would give the youngster every chance to recover from the long road trip before racing.
“It’s a two-day trip and a really long hike,” Dabernig said.
“You’d like to be able to fly there but we’ve got there a bit earlier to give him to time to settle in.”
Catnipped was the last Lindsay Park runner to win the Magic Millions 2YO Classic for the late Peter Hayes in 1998.
Lindsay Park has also produced minor placegetters Churchill Downs, Husson Lightning and Madeenaty since Catnipped’s memorable triumph.