Trainer Joe Pride heads to the Gold Coast next month with an element of confidence with his in-form Magic Millions 3YO Guineas 2020 hopeful Superium winning at Randwick on Villiers Stakes Day.

Superium ran a good lead-up for the 2020 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas winning at Randwick on Villiers Stakes Day. Photo: Steve Hart.

The talented son of Verrazano, a National Yearling Sale graduate for the Superhorse Trust, raced first-up in the $125,000 CES Handicap (1100m) for three and four-year-olds having his maiden run since mid-September.

Superium showed plenty of ability early winning his first two career starts including the lucrative $150,000 Wellington Boot (1100m) in the autumn, before a credible four-run spring campaign.

His best results last time in were the first-up fourth to Dawn Passage when only a half-length off in the Listed The Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill, before being relegated to second behind True Detective at Randwick a fortnight later in the Group 3 Up & Coming Stakes (1300m) in the stewards room after losing the race in a protest.

The flashy chestnut then ran back-to-back fifths, the latest in the Listed Dulcify Quality (1500m) before his successful return off a short spell in the CES Handicap where he jumped from the inside alley with Nash Rawiller in the saddle.

Well-backed late by the punters, Superium went on to defeat the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained topweight Embracer (60kg) in a real driving finish after Rawiller got the split late on the Randwick straight.

“Lovely horse but still a bit raw. He was pretty fresh today but I’ve got no doubt he’s got a future,” winning hoop Rawiller said post-race.

The beaten Mark Newnham-trained favourite Splintex was also far from disgraced rounding out the trifecta in third.

“He was in need of the run and that showed the last 50m but a terrific effort. Ready to rumble now,” jockey Josh Parr said of Splintex after the race.

Pride had also nominated Superium for the Wyong Magic Millions 3YO & 4YO Stakes (1200m) on Thursday but opted to save the galloper for the Benchmark 74 over 100m shorter on the Saturday race card in Sydney.

Pride was quick to confirm the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 11 as the major summer target for Superium who he has tipped for his best preparation yet.

“He looks terrific and has furnished nicely,” he told Racenet.

“He was good during that spring campaign. Really good actually and we expect him to go better again.”

Before taking out the Villiers Stakes Day event, Superium was 18^th on the Magic Millions Guineas ballot with $138,200 in eligible prize money.

He has now jumped up the order of entry with his career earnings boosted by the $58,000 winners’ cheque in the CES Handicap.

“We’ve got a good plan to get him to the Gold Coast and I think the 1400 will really suit him,” Pride said.

“He’s a very talented horse.

“I think we’re going to see the best of him this preparation.”

Superium has subsequently firmed in from $21 into $17 in the all-in 2020 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Full Magic Millions Guineas 2020 markets are available here.