Peter & Paul Snowden’s progressive youngster Mediterranean is starting to really try on the track as the recently gelded galloper heads towards the 2017 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas at the Gold Coast in January.

As a colt the son of Smart Missile won just one of his seven opening career starts when breaking taking out a maiden race in the mud at Canterbury in early July.

Over the autumn he ran in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) finishing five lengths away eighth to Astern in an effort that doesn’t fully reflect his ability according to co-trainer Paul Snowden.

“Look, he ran all the way up to the Golden Rose but it was quite evident the horse wasn’t applying himself properly and he was going nowhere,” Snowden told Racing Victoria.

His latest start produced a fifth in a field of six in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) in late September, after which he was sent out to the paddock and gelded in an attempt to get him to better concentrate in his races.

It could prove a master move as Mediterranean also looked improved at Randwick on Tuesday morning winning a 1050m barrier trial with Blake Shinn aboard by over three lengths.

Snowden said there was never a doubt over the horse’s ability, but that he just needed to put it all together and get that will to win.

“He wasn’t putting in at all. I know the syndicate that it’s their aim is to get the colts but he’s too good ability-wise to let go because he wasn’t trying,” he said.

“There’s a future there for him as a gelding as long as he can get back to his best.”

Even after the winning hit-out Snowden said the gelding had work to do including a January 2 win to continue towards the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) on January 14, which is shaping up as a red hot edition of the Restricted Listed feature.

“It was important that he trialled well today,” Snowden said.

“You aren’t going up there to make up the numbers so he’s pretty much got to win when he gets to the races on the 2nd [of next month].

“This year, it will be the strongest editions of the two, three and four-year-old races I think there had since they’ve been running it.

“They are going to be pretty hot races. They’ve got Group 1 winners going up there.”

Pre-field Magic Millions 3YO Guineas betting at Ladbrokes.com.au is led by the undefeated Bjorn Baker-trained Winning Rupert ($3.10) who races this Saturday in Doomben’s Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m).

The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained dual Group 1 winning filly Global Glamour is the next best fancied at $4.20, while Mediterranean is also one of the top fancies at $13 in futures markets.

To check out the full Magic Millions 3YO Guineas 2016 odds and futures betting options for next month’s classic head to our No. 1 recommended bookmaker Ladbrokes.com.au now!