Astute trainer Stephen Miller feels Magnificent Andy is ‘spot on’ and he’s backed his six-year-old to run well when he tackles Saturday’s $1.5 million The Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot.
Magnificent Andy is coming out of a strong fourth in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) and coupled with a positive barrier draw and a return to his pet distance has given Stephen Miller plenty of confidence his gelding can be competitive in the final feature race of the Pinnacles carnival.
“He’s done really well and the plan was to go to this race,” Miller said on Tabradio.
“Being a 1400m I think he’s pretty much suited at the distance instead of trying to push him forward to the 1800m race (Northerly Stakes).
“He’s coming into it three weeks between runs and a little bit fresher, so I expect him to run really well.”
Magnificent Andy can be tardy out of the gates, but jumped cleanly from an inside draw in the Railway Stakes and was handily placed throughout.
Miller hopes from barrier four in the Gold Rush, regular partner, Brad Parnham, can plot a path and find a similar positive spot in running.
“Brad knows him really well and hopefully can get him out as good as he can,” Miller said.
“It will be nice to lob one off the fence in the moving line and then it’s up to the horse from then on.”
It’s been a productive 15-months for Magnificent Andy who won last October’s Listed Hannans Handicap (1400m) in Kalgoorlie and the Group 3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m) at Belmont in June.
The son of Magnus, who is closing in on $1 million in prizemoney, has recorded seven of his 10 career wins at 1400m.
Miller is flirting with sending Magnificent Andy to Melbourne early next year.
“I still haven’t ruled out taking him to Melbourne for a race or two over there,” Miller said.
“There’s always plenty of races over there for good prize money.
“I think he could measure up to the lower grade, not the top grade.
“That’s still in the back of my mind, for sure.”
Magnificent Andy is $9.50 and on the third line with Tabtouch.
Western Empire ($4.60) holds narrow favouritism over Super Smink ($4.80).
