Bacash to audition for Magic Millions 2YO Classic ticket at Caulfield Heath

Lindsay Park has $3m Magic Millions 2YO Classic ambitions for smart colt Bacash, set to audition for the Gold Coast feature on Saturday at Caulfield Heath.

Bacash (red) will audition for a Magic Millions 2YO Classic ticket on Saturday at Caulfield, while Tycoon Star (green and white) is being aimed at the Blue Diamond series. Picture: Michael Klein

Lindsay Park has $3m Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) ambitions for smart colt Bacash, set to audition for the Gold Coast feature on Saturday at Caulfield Heath.

Bacash has been aimed at the Victorian qualifier since he placed second in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington last month.

Bacash impressed trainer Ben Hayes last Friday in a Flemington jumpout with winkers on for the first time on advice from champion jockey James McDonald, who rode the colt in the Maribyrnong Plate.

The winner of the $250,000 Magic Millions VIC 2YO Classic (1100m) on Saturday is assured a start in the main event next month in Queensland.

“He’s been freshened for this, he trialled last Friday really well and he’s on track, if he runs well and wins he’ll be going up to the Magic Millions,” Hayes said.

“His two runs to date have been really good, James McDonald rode him last start and said he needed some head gear.

“We jumped him out in head gear since and it really straightened him up and made him concentrate.

“He’s a big strong horse and he’s handling his work no problems and very sound.”

Lindsay Park has led the way in Victoria this season with four two-year-old winners, including Tycoon Star, Miss Celine, Shining Smile and Hello Romeo, and 10 minor places from 22 starters.

“Some years you get a good crop, some years you don’t,” Hayes said.

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“This year we’ve got a particularly good, forward bunch, last year things didn’t quite go to plan.

“We had a little sickness come through the stable at the wrong time so we couldn’t get into our two-year-olds, they all got sick, whereas this year we’ve got a nice, lovely run.

“We haven’t changed the way we train them, I just think this year we’ve got a couple early ones.”

Trainer Ben Hayes is plotting a Magic Millions campaign with Bacash

Despite being Magic Millions eligible, Hayes said Maribyrnong Plate winner Tycoon Star would be aimed at the Blue Diamond series.

Tycoon Star finished fourth second-up in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m), not suited by a wet track.

“I think he has a genuine excuse, the wet track because he loomed up like he was going to let down and then the wheels just spun, he didn’t enjoy those conditions,” Hayes said.

“We’ll get him back on a dry track and you’ll see a different horse … he’s not going to go Gold Coast.

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“He’ll probably look to kick off in a (Blue Diamond) Preview or Prelude, probably the Prelude over 1100m and do what (2022 Blue Diamond winner) Little Brose did.”

Magic Millions graduates Miss Celine and Shining Smile are also being freshened for Blue Diamond campaigns.

Hayes said Neverenoughlego, second on debut a two-year-old Handicap at Ballarat last Saturday, would also figure in Blue Diamond calculations.

Bacash is a $26 chance with Ladbrokes for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 11.

Originally published as Bacash to audition for Magic Millions 2YO Classic ticket at Caulfield Heath