Eagle Farm horseman Kelso Wood has declared Sizzling “ready” for their major summer mission, the one-time Magic Millions 2012 Classic favourite having worked well during their gallops this week leading up the Gold Coast feature on Saturday.
Sizzling heads into Saturday's 2012 Magic Millions 2YO Classic in peak fitness
Sizzling has eased in the Luxbet markets for the $2 million BMW Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m), the speedster paying $3.50 to upset firming $3.10 favourite Driefontein.
Gai Waterhouse’s talented Fastnet Rock filly Driefontein got the better of Sizzling last-start when beating him home one and a half lengths in the Group 3 BJ McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on New Year’s Eve, but Wood is confident his horse is ready to turn the tables.
Tuesday morning saw Sizzling complete his final piece of serious work ahead of the MM Classic, galloping with five-year-old stablemate Spirit Of Flatley, a last-start Eagle Farm winner.
“He had a gallop on Tuesday morning with a mate,” Wood said.
“He gave the horse (Spirit Of Flatley) a length start…probably could have beat him by three or four but beat him by a length.
“His work was really good.”
Despite the heat in the sunshine state this week, Sizzling came through his workout in good order and Wood is happy to let him up slightly now before the big one.
“His whole preparation has gone smoothly,” Wood said.
“I know he’s fit enough, I just hope he gets the opportunity to show he’s good enough.
“He just has a trot and canter this morning (Thursday) and will do something similar tomorrow (Friday).
“He’s ready.”
One thing that has Wood certain of improvement from Sizzling is their tidy Magic Millions Classic barrier of six.
With emergencies coming out they will get gate five, making their task a far easier one after Sizzling jumped from barriers eight and 12 respectively in their two most recent runs.
“He hasn’t got the turn of foot from a bad barrier to get up there and sit off the speed,” Wood said.
The Magic Millions has been a race of frustration for Wood in the past, the trainer having lost the 1988 edition on protest.
His galloper Prince Regent was first past the post by a head, but stewards awarded the win to Neville Begg’s Molokai Prince.
“We’ve had a lot of bad luck with Prince Regent,” Wood admitted.
“Financially to me it would have been a great help (to win the Millions).
“I probably could have paid the stables off.
“It was very heartbreaking for all concerned.”
Another person confident Wood’s broken heart from all those years ago will be healed once and for all with a win by Sizzling on Saturday is jockey Chris Munce.
Munce, booked for eight rides on the nine-race Magic Millions Race Day program this year, will continue his association with the up-and-comer having ridden Sizzling to all three of their career starts to date.
“I think he’s racing really well,” Munce said.
“Pressures not going to worry that horse, he’s pretty laid back and casual.
“I like to think if he can hold a competitive spot he can be there right in the finish.”
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