Angel of Mercy set for dash for more Millions cash with Doomben Cup triumph

EXPECT Angel Of Mercy to attract a bit more cash at the Magic Millions broodmare sale should she cause a Doomben Cup boilover.

Sport 12.5.12 Doomben Races. Jockey Corey Brown wins race 1 on Angel Of Mercy.

EXPECT Angel Of Mercy to attract a bit more cash at the Magic Millions broodmare sale should she cause a Doomben Cup boilover.

Angel Of Mercy will line up for what will likely be her final race start before she goes through the ring at the end of the month.

Trainer Gerald Ryan could not have been happier with the mare’s trackwork on Tuesday, and said she’s be ridden “dead quiet’’ in the Group 1 feature that features better-fancied Sydneysiders Leebaz, Streama, Junoob and Moriarty.

“She’s always shown good ability, she’s had little niggling problems, but this is the soundest she’s been in her life,’’ Ryan said.

“We’ll ride her dead quiet on Saturday. It’s a good field, and I (respect) Streama, who has had Group 1 form all her life, and Mr O’Ceirin, who will improve off his run (when second to Streama) on the Gold Coast the other day.’’

Ryan said there was a slim chance he could back up Angel Of Mercy next Saturday in a race at weight-for-age, but the Cup loomed as her likely swan song.

There were 10 acceptors for the Cup, with Angel Of Mercy rated $21 with TAB Fixed Odds behind Leebaz and Streama, both $4.40.

Ryan also has Dances On Stars in the BRC sprint, while Dothraki needs to overcome a tricky barrier in the Fred Best Classic.

“Dances On Stars is in the zone and going terrific, while Dothraki has drawn awkwardly, but trained on well and meets a similar field to one he raced against the other day,’’ Ryan said.

MAGIC JOB BUT TIME TO GO

Magic Millions winner Unencumbered has been retired to stand his first season at stud.

Trained by Bjorn Baker, Unencumbered retires with five wins and two placings from a hectic season of racing that included 10 starts and netted more than $1.9 million in stakes.

Nathan Berry, the young Sydney jockey who died from a rare illness in March, rode Unencumbered in each of the colt’s five wins.

Wet tracks worked against Unencumbered in two Group One starts during the Sydney autumn carnival as he finished worse than midfield in both the Golden Slipper and ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes

He will stand for Three Bridges Thoroughbreds in Victoria, joining Stryker, a son of Fastnet Rock, on the farm’s roster.

“We are delighted to have secured him and are happy retire him now as we believe he’s done enough,’’ Three Bridges’ Peter Liston said.

“In winning the Magic Millions (he) has put himself in some very good company as few colts have won it.’’

Previous Magic Millions winners to leave their mark at stud include Unencumbered’s sire Testa Rossa, Snippets and General Nediym.

Leading stallions Not A Single Doubt and Snitzel were placed in the race.