A berth in next month’s $2 million Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast will be the reward for two-year-old I Am The General if he is successful at Flemington.
Mornington trainer Shane Nichols is leaning to starting I Am The General in Saturday’s 2YO Plate (1000m) at Flemington instead of the $200,000 Magic Millions race at Wyong on Thursday week.
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I Am The General was third to Sheer Style and Geromayo in the Clockwise Classic (1000m) at Ballarat on debut last month and Nichols is optimistic heading into the city race.
“He was quite impressive (at Ballarat). The winner of that race is very good and we weren’t suited by the heavy track,” Nichols said.
“The winner carted us off on the corner a bit and may have cost us finishing a bit closer.”
Nichols liked the way I Am The General was strong to the line late and expects the Flemington race to suit him better despite the race being the same distance as his first start.
“Even though it’s 1000 metres at Flemington, it’s probably a tough 1000 metres which will suit him better,” the trainer said.
“He has trained on very well since and hopefully if he can run in the first few he’ll go into the Magic Millions at his next run.”
I Am The General won $18,000 for his debut third and needs to bank more prize money to secure a start at the Gold Coast on January 11.
“If he runs first three then that will probably get him into the Magic Millions,” Nichols said.
Jake Noonan, who rode the I Am Invincible colt on debut, retains the ride at Flemington.
I Am The General is among 18 entries for the Flemington race with only four having race experience.
Peter Moody has three nominations in Saturday’s event including a colt named Better Land who is a son of Shamardal out of former brilliant juvenile Amelia’s Dream.
Amelia’s Dream raced only twice, winning at Canterbury on debut as a two-year-old in 2008 by more than nine lengths before taking out the Silver Slipper by 6-1/4 lengths.
She came out of the Silver Slipper with a serious leg injury and never raced again.
