Caulfield trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr will have a two-pronged kiwi attack in Saturday’s Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington.
Tavistock gelding Tiz Magic will be out to keep his unbeaten record intact after winning on debut over 1400m at Wangaratta earlier this month, while Gunstock also pleased when winning first-up over a mile at Cranbourne.
“We ran Gunstock over a mile first-up and it was a massive run,” Kent told SENTrack.
“He covered a lot of ground and kept coming. I think he is a real natural stayer and he is a beautiful horse.
“It was a very good win by Tiz Magic. He trialled quite well at Cranbourne. He is a bit green still so we put the blinkers on and I think they helped him win that race.
“He was in an awful spot turning and had to bump himself out and I think Damian Lane’s (jockey) manager had his heart in his mouth thinking he might get suspended, but he didn’t. He got through there and won pretty softly by a length eased down.
“Being a Tavistock, naturally he will enjoy the rise in trip.
“Damian said to take the blinkers off for that rise in trip, so they will come off.
“It is a tough ask at his second start at Flemington, it is going to be a testing track I think, but he has really trained on well.”
The pair have been working together in the lead-up to their stakes debuts and Kent Jr said Tiz Magic has been slightly better in their work ahead of the weekend.
“They went to Sandown together last Tuesday, worked together on Saturday, and again this (Tuesday) morning,” Kent said.
“It is hard to split them but on work Tiz Magic is a bit sharper.”
Gunstock was initially purchased out of Cambridge Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft by Ohukia Lodge for $80,000, while Tiz Magic was purchased out of Woburn Farm’s draft at the same sale by HBL Racing for $140,000.
Meanwhile, Kent reported stablemate and fellow Kiwi-bred I’m Thunderstruck has pulled up well after his third placing in the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
“He is superb. He has got an amazing constitution,” Kent said.
“He got turned inside out (in the Rupert Clarke). He walked home to his stable and was straight into his oats and he was bouncing around the next week.
“He worked lovely on Saturday and did some evens this morning and is in great order.
“He will gallop on Saturday and Tuesday and front-up in the Toorak (Gr.1, 1600m). He’s a rating 96 now so that should assure him of a start. I think he will still get 52kg with Jye NcNeil to ride.” – NZ Racing Desk
