Newcastle Spring Stakes: Kickup Rocky heads the field as Magic Millions campaign builds
Desleigh Forster, a trainer based in Queensland, is keen to transport her talented three-year-old gelding, Kickup Rocky, away from home for the Group 3 Spring Stakes at Newcastle on Saturday.
This gelding is currently the favourite for the 1600-metre race designated for three-year-olds. He boasts an official handicap rating that surpasses his nearest competitor by 12 points, with a total of 11 horses nominated for the event.
Forster, the conditioner of Apache Chase when it won the 2022 Kingsford Smith Cup, commented that the Saturday fixture is an ideal target following two victories in open grade races at Eagle Farm and Doomben this preparation.
"Everything's good, I'm happy with where he's at," Forster commented.
"There was probably no superstars in the race at Doomben but it was a good effort with the big weight. He's always shown very good ability, things just went a bit pear shaped in the JJ Atkins but he's matured and developed into a really nice horse."
The fact that Kickup Rocky contested the Group 1 JJ Atkins race underscores the high opinion Forster holds of him. She was also willing to debut the $130,000 Magic Millions yearling purchase in Listed company during his two-year-old season.
While the Magic Millions 2YO Classic proved to be a race too soon, Forster fully intends for Kickup Rocky to compete on the Gold Coast following his Saturday engagement at Newcastle.
"The Spring Stakes just fits in perfectly, his main goal is the Magic Millions in January so he can have a trip away, he'll go back to Embrook to his normal spelling farm on Sunday and have a few weeks there," Forster elaborated.
"Then we'll get him ready for the Magic Millions, 1400 metres in the Guineas. He's matured a lot better now, and I reckon in the Winter Carnival we'll probably see a fully matured sort of horse."
Daniel Moor, the gelding's regular jockey, will once again be in the saddle. Kickup Rocky is the $2.20 favourite in the all-in betting, with Prince Of Verona, trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald and yet to be beaten, at $4.
Those interested in the Newcastle Spring Stakes can find competitive racing odds at various online bookmakers.
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