The all-in price on Wild Heart in 2018 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas betting for next month has firmed after the Team Hawkes-trained galloper beat home his rivals in the traditional Wyong lead-up.

Jockey Brenton Avdulla rode Wild Heart to victory in the 2017 Wyong Magic Millions 3YO & 4YO Stakes this summer. Photo: Daniel Costello.

Thursday’s Wyong race card features a host of import preparatory races for gallopers eyeing a shot at the Gold Coat Magic Millions Races in Queensland on January 13.

That is the likely major summer target for the Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes-trained Hinchinbrook gelding following his tenacious late win in the $100,000 Wyong Magic Millions 3YO & 4YO Stakes (1200m).

The race featured just the five starters and it was the two three-year-olds in the mix who dominated proceedings late, Wild Heart ($6) running down the Gary Portelli-trained Single Bullet ($3.90) for the win.

Not A Single Doubt colt Single Bullet, a multiple Group 2 runner-up over the spring and second in the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic last December, looked the winner after travelling well into the straight and overtaking the pacesetter Arbeitsam.

After a patiently-timed ride from jockey Brenton Avdulla however, it was Wild Heart reeling off the best final 100m sectional making up the ground and running over the top of Single Bullet in his first start since early August.

“Delighted with that, he is a horse that races well fresh,” Hawkes Racing’s stable rep Tania Rose said post-win.

“He finished the race off really well through the line.

“He stretched out really well. He’s always been a horse that goes really well fresh.”

Also first-up was the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained favourite Arbeitsam ($2.25) who, as expected, got an uncontested easy lead in front soon after the jump.

The Snitzel four-year-old won his previous three starts last campaign and was tipped to keep the winning streak going fresh at Wyong.

He revved up out of the gates and got to the front, with Single Bullet handy on his outside as subsequent third-placegetter Redouble punched through on the rails to settle third ahead of Wild Heart.

Single Bullet and his hoop Tye Angland moved up putting the pressure on Arbeitsam as they approached the home turn and took off at the top of the straight, quickly claiming the favourite who faded to finish fourth.

Wild Heart chased Single Bullet down the outside and got up over the top for the impressive half-length victory that will go some way to qualifying him prize-money wise for the Restricted Listed $3 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast next month.

“He certainly relaxes well enough, you’d think he would [get further than 1200m],” Rose said.

“But I’ll leave that one up to the boss.”

Before the Wyong Magic Millions 3YO & 4YO Stakes results, Wild Heart sat No. 50 on the order of entry for the $2 million feature in mid-January.

He was also at a roughie’s price of around $51 in pre-field Gold Coast Magic Millions Guineas betting at Ladbrokes.com.au, a price that has subsequently been slashed to $21.

Check out the updated 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast 3YO Guineas odds on all the potential runners in the summer showdown now at Ladbrokes.com.au.