Top trainer Kelly Schweida leaves behind MM barrier draw misery

A horror Magic Millions draw left Kelly Schweida with his lip on the floor this week, before the gifted trainer returned to create some waves in the sale ring on the Gold Coast.

Trainer Kelly Schweida was disappointed when Miss Hipstar drew barrier 19 for the main event this weekend, but turned that around in the sales ring.

Kelly Schweida brushed off a bitterly disappointing Magic Millions barrier draw to aim up at the sales on Wednesday, where he secured three consecutive lots midway through the session.

Schweida’s Miss Hipstar drew barrier 19 for the 2YO Classic on Tuesday, sinking the trainer’s optimism of bouncing back after a luckless run from a wide draw last Saturday.

“My lip was dragging on the ground all day,” Schweida said.

“She looks enormous. I was tickled pink with the way she looked (on Tuesday morning) and then she came up with that gate.”

Miss Hipstar will wear visors on Saturday. She has jumped out sharply in blinkers, but Schweida opted for the visors, which allow some side vision, because horses can be slow away first time in blinkers.

Miss Hipstar wins at Ipswich with Larry Cassidy in the saddle. Picture: Trackside Photography

“There’s only one way to ride her. She will have no hope if she’s back midfield, so I hope she jumps and can get across,” the trainer said.

Stable stalwart The Odyssey will try to stretch to 1300m in the $1 million QTIS after drawing out in the Snippets, from which he was scratched.

“We were going to the other race, but he drew 12 and it’s a super strong race. He has 59kg (in the QTIS) but he’s earned it against these and hopefully he can see it out,” Schweida said.

Schweida purchased Lots 259 (More Than Ready filly for $380,000), 260 (Zoustar colt for $380,000) and 261 (Almanzor filly for $325,000) after earlier going to $875,000 for an I Am Invincible filly, but missing out to Godolphin’s $900,000 bid.

“The Blue Army ran over me, but I was pleased to get the other ones,” he said.

Earlier, Schweida secured a Spirit Of Boom half-sister to his talented galloper Oink.

The Magic Millions sale continued at great speed yesterday, with another four yearlings fetching seven figures, headed by Segenhoe Stud’s Kingman colt from the family of Redoute’s Choice, knocked down to Coolmore’s Tom Magnier for $1.8 million.

More than $83 million has been traded in two days, with the average soaring to $260,000.

Originally published as Top trainer Kelly Schweida leaves behind MM barrier draw misery