The juvenile maiden at Rosehill on Wednesday always promised to be an interesting contest with two outstanding colts in Hinchbeast and Volterra clearing away from their rivals to fight out the finish.
With the advantage of barrier one and blinkers on, the Bjorn Baker trained Hinchinbrook colt Hinchbeast showed abundant pace to lead on the fence and kicked well clear off the turn for Hugh Bowman.
Over the concluding stages he started to fade with the Chris Waller trained I Am Invincible colt Volterra making good ground late to be beaten half a length with nearly eight lengths back to the third horse.
The time of 1:03.88 was a class record for the 1100 metres with both colts enhancing their claim for the $2million Magic Millions Classic in January with terrific performances.
“He was very good although he probably went along faster than I thought early and was out on his feet late,” said Hugh Bowman.
“He’ll learn a lot from that.”
Chris Waller was also well satisfied with the debut of Volterra, who was bought for $1.3million from the draft of Yarraman Park, who retain a share in his ownership along with the trainer himself and a syndicate of Waller stable clients.
“He did everything right,” said Waller.
“We saw it almost as a second barrier trial for him and he’s going to come away from today with a good experience. He’ll go one better next start.”
The winner Hinchbeast runs for Bjorn Baker Racing and was a $240,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Willow Park draft for Teng Long/Legends Bstock/McKeever Bstock.
Hinchbeast is the first winner from former good juvenile winner Shamrock Slipper, a half-sister by Jet Spur to stakes-winner Interspersed from the family of Group I winner Wanted.
He has some interesting line breeding in his pedigree which features a double cross of both Danehill and Snippets.
Magic Millions 2020 will feature siblings to both Hinchbeast and Volterra.
Willow Park will offer a Capitalist filly from Shamrock Slipper as Lot 756.
Yarraman Park will offer the full brother to Volterra as Lot 840.
