By Glenn Davis
Trainer Steve O’dea and one of his biggest supporters Proven Thoroughbreds unearthed a Magic Millions Guineas contender when Invigorating was successful at Doomben on Saturday.
Invigorating proved a giant killer when she stormed home to down Hallside Fandango by a neck in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Fillies Handicap (1200m).
Quanyin was third, a further nose away.
Invigorating’s win lowered the boom on Melbourne bound Asharani who beat only one runner home on the soft going.
O’dea’s stable foreman Matt Hoysted said Invigorating would head to the Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast in January.
The daughter of Sizzling was a $75,000 buy for Proven Thoroughbreds at last year’s Magic Millions March sales and is unbeaten in two starts after winnng on debut at Ipswich last month.
“She’s taken the next step to win in town after her midweek Ipswich win,” Hoysted said.
“She might be pretty good and it was a good win after getting the wind knocked out of her sails on the turn.
“Whatever she’s doing now she’ll be even better next preparation.
“She’s a Magic Millions filly and will head that way but I’m not sure if she’ll spell just yet or have another run.”
Trainer Les Ross also had 64-thousand reasons to smile after Defence Missile claimed the QTIS Three-Year-Old Colts & Geldings Handicap (1200m).
Ridden by apprentice Clayton Gallagher, Defence Missile jumped to the front off his outside gate and was untroubled to down Fuji Flyer.
Defence Missile is owned by Mike Crooks who bought the son of Love Conquers All for $15,000.
Crook has been a long-time supporter of Ross, who made a crucial gear change which led to the gelding’s victory.
“He had been a little disappointing so I took his blinkers off and put winkers on and it got the job done,” Ross said.
“It was a nice win and I think there’s plenty more to come.
“I didn’t like it when he drew the outside barrier but Clayton used his head and took him straight to the front.”
Defence Missile is ineligible for the Magic Millions and Ross plans to target more QTIS races with him.
“The QTIS prizemoney is fantastic. We picked up $64,000 for this win so why wouldn’t we chase more races like this,” he said.
Defence Missile has now raced nine times for two wins and five placings.
Racing Queensland webnews September 8