The $300,000 Group III BRC Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday is often a dress rehearsal for the $3million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas in two weeks time and the winner this year was Give Me Space, who produced an incredible last to first finish to credit his sire Cosmic Force with his first stakes-winner.
Trained by Barry Lockwood and ridden by Luke Dempsey, Give Me Space had won two of five previous starts but was sent off at 16-1 facing a field of promising interstate trained three year-olds including Flemington stakes-winner Catoggio, Group I placed Bosustow and in form Sydney horses Zoubaby and Raikkonen, who started favourite.
Give Me Space was a clear last turning for home and the widest runner, but was still able to mow them everyone down to win by a head with the first three home all roughies and the fancied horses out of the placings making the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas a lottery.
"That was some performance, nothing went right for him," said winning rider Luke Dempsey, a former Irish jumps jockey, now calling Australia home.
"I knew we would get back, but I didn't plan on being that far back.
"Once we straightened up and got into clean air, he was a brilliant horse who was so tough.
"I didn't know if we were too far off or not, it is great to ride a Group winner for Barry, they have been big supporters since I got here."
A $75,000 Magic Millions purchase for Livistona Grazing Company from Newgate Farm, Give Me Space has won three of six starts earning $277,000 and change.
Bred by Newgate and partners, he is a half-brother to Group III winner Extra Time and is the second stakes-winner among four winners from Group II placed Gwynethanne (NZ) and appears to be her final foal.
Give Me Space is the first stakes-winner for Deep Field’s Group II winning son Cosmic Force, who stands at Newgate Farm and has seven entries for Magic Millions and 11 for Inglis Classic.
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