Unbeaten youngster McGaw ‘bigger and stronger’ for spring three-year-old campaign

Spring prospect McGaw’s popularity with Hong Kong buyers will only increase if the young sprinter lives up to expectations during his spring three-year-old campaign.

A bigger and stronger McGaw has returned to work as trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne prepare the gelding for a spring three-year-old campaign. Picture: Getty Images

A bigger and stronger version of exciting galloper McGaw is back in work to prepare for his spring three-year-old campaign.

McGaw banked more than $600,000 in only two starts as a two-year-old, winning a Pakenham maiden on debut before powering to victory from a wide gate in the VOBIS Showdown at Caulfield on March 15.

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Those wins attracted the interest of several Hong Kong buyers but co-trainer Emma-Lee Browne said the son of I Am Immortal’s owners knocked back all offers.

“There was a fair bit of interest but the owners decided to keep him,” Browne, who trains McGaw in partnership with her husband David, said.

“He’s already paid for himself so they decided they’d rather race on with him.”

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The Brownes had the luxury of spelling McGaw at their property, giving them the opportunity to inspect the gelding almost daily.

Browne said McGaw had developed the muscle to match his leggy frame in the last three months.

“He’s grown more and he’s a big boy now as he’s put on great condition,” she said.

“He’s back in about three or four weeks now.

“He’s finally grown into his frame. He was quite leggy and needed to fill out but he’s done that perfectly, which is exciting.”

McGaw won more than $600,000 in two starts in the autumn. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Browne said the stable aimed to have McGaw back at the races at Caulfield in the early weeks of August.

“We’re looking to kick him off in the Vain (Stakes),” she said.

“We’re thinking he’ll probably have two jumpouts and they have some at Caulfield as well so we might head there with him.”

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Browne said McGaw’s first two runs as a three-year-old would determine whether connections would target the Caulfield Guineas over 1600m or shorter contests.

“We have a done a gene test on him that suggests we may be able to stretch him out,” she said.

“But that’s all dependent on how he settles in running and things like that.

“He’s only had the two starts, and in one, he came from the back and he went forward in the other.

“We’ll know a lot more after his first couple of starts.”

Originally published as Unbeaten youngster McGaw ‘bigger and stronger’ for spring three-year-old campaign