Scott Aspery expects Uzziah to bounce back at Randwick as he hunts a Magic Millions berth

Newcastle trainer Scott Aspery plans to run Uzziah twice in eight days in a bid to earn a start at next month’s Magic Millions raceday.

Uzziah will look to snare a spot at the Magic Millions next month. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Trainer Scott Aspery has hatched a plan to get Uzziah through the back door into the lucrative Magic Millions carnival and expects his stable star to take a significant step towards that target at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Aspery will run Uzziah twice in the space of eight days in a bid to win his way into the $1 million Magic Millions Cup on the Gold Coast on January 11.

Uzziah will first step out in this weekend’s James Squire Benchmark 100 Handicap (1400m), a race in which Aspery believes he can bounce back to his best.

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The son of Outreach won two of his first three starts this preparation but struggled to let down in soft conditions in the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) last month at Rosehill Gardens.

“His wheels were spinning the whole way in the Festival Stakes,” Aspery said.

“He didn’t handle that ground at all so we will forget he went around in that.

“We had him in The Ingham last Saturday but unfortunately he didn’t get a run so we have had to use this race as our next option.

“He was going well enough to put him in The Ingham so this race on looks more than suitable.”

Uzziah goes all the way in front to score in the last at Newcastle! 👏@[e-mail]/l0dtOfzbqk

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) November 16, 2024

Uzziah is a $3.60 favourite to return to winning ways at Randwick with premier frontrunning rider Tim Clark set to pilot the gelding.

If all goes to plan, Aspery will back up Uzziah a week later in the $300,000 Magic Millions Buffering (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

“If you win that race, it’s a wildcard into the Magic Millions,” Aspery said.

“It will depend how he pulls up because he will be on the seven-day back up.

“The other thing is, it is wet up there and that might rule out the Buffering totally anyway but this race on Saturday looks suitable for him to get back in form after that run in the Festival.”

Uzziah has won two of his four starts this preparation. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

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Aspery’s lightly-raced three-year-old Spandex will return from a spell later this week at either Canterbury on Friday or Wyong on Saturday.

The son of Pariah has drawn well in barrier two for the Drinkwise Maiden Plate (1100m) at Canterbury as he prepares to make his second start.

“He is a bit under the radar,” Aspery said.

“He has trialled well without being purchased and if he doesn’t run Friday night, he will at Wyong on Saturday.

“I am looking forward to seeing what he can do.”

Acceptances for Saturday’s Wyong meeting will be released on Thursday.

Originally published as Scott Aspery expects Uzziah to bounce back at Randwick as he hunts a Magic Millions berth