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Greg Hickman casts his eye over his Gold Coast stable in the lead up to Magic Millions

Greg Hickman has personally cast his eye over his Gold Coast satellite stale as he prepares Eleven Eleven for a crack at the talent-heavy Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

Sky Racing Update Monday 02-12

GREG Hickman has personally cast his eye over his Gold Coast satellite stale as he prepares Eleven Eleven for a crack at the talent-heavy Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

The Group 1-winning Sydney trainer flew to the Gold Coast on Monday to watch the trials at Aquis Park where he had five runners, most who will go for a spell, including promising two-year-old Dash For Dreams and three-year-old Moetta.

Hickman will have Zamosa race in today’s Maiden Plate (1650m) at Beaudesert in what will be the four-year-old mare’s second run for his stable following a second-place finish at Gatton on November 21 over 1400m.

Trainer Gregory Hickman is seen in the mounting yard after Phoebe's Lass wins race 7, the Australian Turf Club Handicap, during Twilight Racing at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Thursday, November 22, 2018. (AAP Image/Simon Bullard)
Trainer Gregory Hickman is seen in the mounting yard after Phoebe's Lass wins race 7, the Australian Turf Club Handicap, during Twilight Racing at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Thursday, November 22, 2018. (AAP Image/Simon Bullard)

Eleven Eleven struggled after shifting to Queensland at the end of last year but found form again in NSW, winning three straight races at provincial level at Kembla Grange before being sent to the Gold Coast again where he placed third at Doomben over 1200m on November 30.

“He was up here and didn’t handle life early as a horse,” Hickman said.

“He was doing a lot of things wrong and we took him home back to Sydney and he won three in the provincials.

“It gives us a bit of confidence with him and he is heading in the right direction with him.

“We just took him back and put him in our system in Sydney.

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“We wanted to be able to teach him to go at the pace the jockey wanted to do instead of him running through the bridle and running scared.”

Hickman said the horse was being aimed at the $2 million Guineas where a stacked field including Group 3 winner Alligator Blood and 2019 2YO Classic winner Exhilarates.

“You always have hope but it will be a pretty hot Guineas this year,” Hickman said.

“It will be a really interesting race.”

Trainer Gregory Hickman (left) poses for a photograph with Queensland Racing Minister Sterling Hinchcliff after Pierata won race 7, the Magic Millions Three-Years-Old Guineas, during the Gold Coast Magic Millions at Aquis Park, Gold Coast Turf Club, Queensland, Saturday, January 13, 2018. (AAP Image/Albert Perez)
Trainer Gregory Hickman (left) poses for a photograph with Queensland Racing Minister Sterling Hinchcliff after Pierata won race 7, the Magic Millions Three-Years-Old Guineas, during the Gold Coast Magic Millions at Aquis Park, Gold Coast Turf Club, Queensland, Saturday, January 13, 2018. (AAP Image/Albert Perez)

Hickman opened his Gold Coast stable in March this year and has been patiently building it, something he believes will still take some time.

“It’s slowly building,” Hickman said.

“You just have to tinker a few things, organise staff and the owners.

“For me to get up here a bit more and to be able to is important too

“(Foreman) Tenille Ranger has done a super job up here looking after the horses.

“Chris Waller’s Gold Coast stable has taken a while to get up and rolling so its about getting the right horses in the stable and the right clients behind you.”

Beau Dunn was the original foreman of the Gold Coast stable but has since joined Gai Waterhouse’s Melbourne operation.

“Beau sent me a text message and said he would be no longer working for me,” Hickman said of the exchange around six months ago.

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/racing/greg-hickman-casts-his-eye-over-his-gold-coast-stable-in-the-lead-up-to-magic-millions/news-story/2e4390255ffac458009602328ad1c6c3