Grafton preview: Marcus Wilson’s bargain buy Special Master to deliver on pedigree potential

Sparingly-raced six-year-old Special Master is at Grafton on Tuesday chasing his first win but had he lived-up to his pedigree, he could have been at Flemington chasing a Melbourne Cup seven days from now.

Gold Coast trainer Marcus Wilson saddles up Special Master at Grafton on Tuesday. Photo: Supplied

Sparingly-raced six-year-old Special Master is at Grafton on Tuesday chasing his first win but had he lived-up to his pedigree, he could have been at Flemington chasing a Melbourne Cup seven days from now.

Born and raised at Coolmore, Special Master is a son of Galileo out of a Danehill mare.

That same cross has delivered the incomparable Frankel as well as Teofilo; the sire of three Melbourne Cup winners.

Despite his regal bloodlines, Special Master was sold for $100,000 on the Gold Coast in 2020.

He was re-sold – without a race start – for a mere $3,500 at the Inglis Online sale in June 2024.

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“Anthony Cummings had him originally,’’ trainer Marcus Wilson explained. “I am not sure of the reason why they sold him. Big chance he may not have been up to the grade down there.

“You would think with his breeding – and he is indicating – that he is going to run a trip.

“He is a progressive horse. I don’t think we will see the best of him until next prep when he gets over further but he has found a race you would think he would be competitive in off his two runs.

“I probably could have got away with another 1400m before going to the mile or the 1700m, but I am happy to go to the 1700m with him.

“I thought it was a good run the other day and he has pulled up well, he’s bright, he looks terrific.’’

While Special Master is one of, if not the best-bred horses in action on Tuesday, his stablemate Siglo De Oro, can lay claim to being one of the flashiest.

A son of French Derby winner Lope De Vega, Siglo De Oro’s pedigree and physique was enough to entice Ciaron Maher to fork out $700,000 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale in 2022.

The chestnut changed hands again in April (online), only this time for $17,000.

A bargain it may end up being, but Siglo Do Oro was costly to punters when clocking in last of 10 at Ipswich on September 19.

“The jockey came back and said the horse hung very bad,’’ Wilson said. “Watching the replay, personally I didn’t think so, but he is a strong horse than can travel strongly.

“He pulled up fine, he vetted fine the next day, scoped up great. Obviously we had to trial him and he trialled really well actually.

“He has drawn a gate which is important. It looks a nice race for him.’’

Wilson’s Grafton-bound troupe have, for the most part, been blessed with ‘winning barriers’.

Stable recruit Uncut Gem is a case in point; she will jump from barrier 3 in the first leg of Tuesday’s quaddie.

“She’s only had the two runs for us and has been unlucky both times,’’ Wilson said.

“It is a competitive little race but she is racing well.

“She comes back slightly in distance. I haven’t done a lot with her in between, and she looks well.’’

Deep Field gelding Laser Beam makes his second visit to Grafton on Tuesday having finished an honourable second at his first back in February.

The Sledmere Stud bred bay handed in his best run of the current campaign when fifth at Ipswich 22-days ago.

“He is a horse that has just got no first and second-up form but last start was a much improved performance,’’ says Wilson.

“He did it very tough in the run and probably should have dropped out and run last.

“Drawn favourably on Tuesday and not a lot of speed on paper, he can put himself in the first three and make his own luck.’’

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Dodson duo primed for Grafton

The final race at @clarenceriverjc belongs to My Mum's Toyboy! pic.twitter.com/cUDOkDbHX2

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 23, 2024

Brett Dodson is hoping for a change of luck for Miss Mazerati at Grafton on Tuesday and a Country Championships performance from her little brother My Mum’s Toyboy a few hours later.

The Coff Harbour-trained pair share more than the same address, they were both foaled on September 9, exactly 12 months apart.

Naturally, both horses share the same third dam, Gabbing Gloria, who is the mother of Caulfield Cup winner Diatribe whilst their sixth dam, Natalma, left the breed-shaping stallion Northern Dancer.

My Mum’s Toyboy, the younger of the two Dodson stablemates, is back on more familiar turf on Tuesday after a trip away to Doomben on October 9.

“There’s a bit of form out of the race that he ran in last start, it was a pretty hot race in town,’’ Dodson said.

“He was going to go to the paddock but we wanted to try him over 1400m because of the Championships coming up. I want to see how he runs it out before we give him a couple of weeks off and then get him ready for that.

“His work has been really good since and I don’t think the 1400m will be a problem.

“Claire (Ramsbotham) rode him at Grafton last time and got up on him. he’s won two of his last three so he hasn’t done a lot wrong and coming back from city grade, he is going to be hard to beat.’’

Miss Mazerati meanwhile is searching for just her second career win at start 22 on Tuesday but could easily have a higher tally but for the usual array of outside factors.

“She’s just had no luck at all,’’ Dodson says.

“She has been drawing wide-ish gates and when she did draw a good gate she slipped at the start.

“Last start she slipped in behind and just got back on another track where the rail was out six metres and I thought she did a good job to work home like she did.

“If she can get away nicely with them and just possie-up in behind them, I think we will see an improved run, not that she has to improve too much on what she is doing.

“She is a mare that can tie-up a little so I think the back-up will suit.’’