Late burst propels Highness into Magic Millions frame with sensational Wyong win

Highness snatched victory in the Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic from favourite Spywire, whose rider was questioned by stewards after the race.

Highness, ridden by Tommy Berry, runs down hot favourite Spywire at Wyong on Wednesday. Picture: Steve Hart

High-priced colt Highness surged into Magic Millions and Golden Slipper contention with a stunning burst to upset unbeaten juvenile Spywire at Wyong on Thursday.

The $900,000 yearling buy showed a sensational turn of speed to gun down Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s Spywire in the $200,000 Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic (1100m).

Rival jockey Tyler Schiller looked to have the race won but Spywire had to be stamped urgent again late as the Michael Freedman-trained Highness grew wings to salute to his outside.

Stewards questioned Schiller post-race about his vigour on Spywire over the final 100m but was cleared.

But it took nothing away from the brilliant performance of Highness, who saw his odds slashed from $26 into a $6 second elect for next month’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

@TommyBerry21 with a clutch finish for @mmsnippets@WyongRaceClub 2yo Classic and @Chantellebuckle's pick of the yard Highness! pic.twitter.com/MBz0dQy5dR

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 13, 2023

“I think he has a really good future,” Freedman said.

“I loved his run (on debut) in the Breeders’ Plate where he didn’t have a great deal of luck back earlier in the spring.

“He had a little bit of a let up and went to Newcastle the other day (for a trial) but I think he is a fairly high class horse.”

• ‘Jewels are gone’: Magic Millions hope gelded after last-start flop

Highness finished sixth on debut in the Group 3 Breeders’ Plate on the last weekend of September before earning a short let up to target the lucrative Magic Millions races.

Jockey Tommy Berry has always held the Snitzel colt in high regard but had to work hard to put his first win on the board.

Spywire ($2) set the tempo throughout and stole what looked to be a winning break halfway down the straight until Highness ($4.40) launched to win by half a length with a huge gap back to the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Toque ($3.10) in third.

• Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: What’s next for Lees’ Ingham hero?

“This guy I always felt he would be better with a preparation and he showed that here today,” Berry said.

“That is probably as underdone as you are going to see him and there is a lot more improvement there.

“From the top of the straight I pulled the stick through to the right and he just lowered and took off.

“I was going to get him (Spywire) it was just a matter of when.”

The last horse to win the Wyong-Gold Coast Magic Millions double also wore James Harron’s dark green and gold silks.

Tommy Berry was a happy man after Highness saluted. Picture: Steve Hart

Capitalist won the Wyong feature in 2015 before backing it up in the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast in January and then winning the Golden Slipper for trainers Peter and Paul Snowden later that autumn.

“It’s very exciting of have to say,” Harron said.

“I am very proud of the horse, he showed great tenacity and then really cruised through the line so I am very pleased.”

Freedman is unlikely to give Highness another run before having a crack at the $2m Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast on January 13.

“We are just one four weeks away so I would probably think he will need to trial,” he said.

“I don’t think he will need to go to the race or anything.

“We could probably find a trial 10 days or two weeks out to keep him up to the mark.”

Originally published as Late burst propels Highness into Magic Millions frame with sensational Wyong win