By ROY ASPINALL
WILD RAIN, winner of Saturday’s $120,000 Listed City of Greater Dandenong Stakes (1000 metres), on the Sandown Hillside track, will head to the Gold Coast next month for the $10 million Magic Millions race day.
The 2016 Magic Millions Race Day, on January 9, is Australia’s first $10 million race day, including the $2,000,000 Magic Millions 2YO Classic and $2,000,000 Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas exclusively for Magic Millions graduates. The day features nine races at the Gold Coast course.
The four-year-old mare, trained at Flemington by Mark Kavanagh has an imposing record over the 1000 metres with three wins and two placings from seven tries at the trip. Saturday was her second Listed win having also won the Lightning Stakes over 1050 metres at Morphettville in Adelaide in July and has finished second twice at recent outings.
The win brought some minor relief for Mark Kavanagh who has been dealing with the ongoing Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board hearing of charges relating to elevated cobalt levels since last Monday, alongside fellow trainer Danny O’Brien.
Mark’s son and assistant trainer Levi Kavanagh said his parents had more reasons than most to let their hair down, with Mark’s wife and Levi’s mum Isobel a part-owner.
“Yeah I think she’ll be pretty happy, she might even take Dad out to dinner tonight,“ Levi said post-race.
Winning jockey Stephen Baster had a prime vantage point of the four-year old’s potential as Wild Rain flew past the post.
“She’s very fast,” Baster said of Wild Rain, “I said to Levi, ’We might sit off them today’, but she was going too fast, she basically just towed me around. Credit to Levi and Mark,“
“Her record speaks for itself – she’s very consistent, just too speedy for them today.“
Wild Rain now has six wins and four placings from 15 starts, and is bound for the $1 million Magic Millions Sprint (1100m) on January 9.
Saturday marked an important moment in the career of Cranbourne trainer, Trudi Christie, when Electric Fusion won the $90,000 Yarraman Village Plate (1600 metres). It marked the first city winner for the mother of two.
“I’ve only got a small team of horses, but they’re like family,“ she said.
“I’ve got a couple of kids who love them and do everything with them, and they’re very much a part of the family.”
Christie graciously credited prominent owner Phil Sly for backing her with the six-year-old Fastnet Rock gelding, who was having his eighth start for her small stable having previously been in the care of Aquanita trainer Robert Smerdon. Phil Sly, who has been battling cancer for some time, is one of the state’s most prominent owners.
“He’s the most amazing owner,“ Christie said.
“He gave me something to give me a leg up, and hopefully have a go with a bit of quality.
“He’s the most amazing support behind what I do. I couldn’t be happier.“
The win was the first leg of a winning double for jockey Jackie Beriman who added the $80,000 Macpherson Kelley Plate (1400 metres) on Danestroem, trained at Cranbourne by Mick Kent.
