STAR three-year-old filly California Wish ended her season on a high when she scored an emphatic win in the $50,000 Magic Millions Classic over 1200 metres at The TOTE Racing Centre in Launceston last night.
California Wish (California Dane-Pirate’s Sirene) was solidly backed to start the $2.50 favourite and at no stage did she give her backers cause for alarm.
With Victorian-based jockey Jarrod Todd aboard, California Wish was quick to begin from her near inside barrier (2) but she was forced to race outside of the leader Clonbullogue that began from gate one.
The pair travelled well to the home turn where Todd called on his filly to extend and she responded by skipping two lengths clear.
But she then had to dig deep to stave off strong challenges from Tiger’s Cup and Royal Rapture.
It was a fitting end to a long preparation that resulted in three wins from four starts.
Connections had been contemplating taking the filly to South Australia for a Group race for three-year-old fillies next month but they have instead opted to send her for a spell.
“The filly had a bit of trouble travelling down to Hobart for a race last week so a trip to SA might be a bit too taxing on her so she’ll go to the paddock,” said trainer Adam Trinder.
“I don’t have any doubt that she would be up to contesting the Group race in Adelaide but she is a bit highly strung and mentally she might not handle the trip too well.”
“She has done a great job and if she comes back as well as I hope then she more than likely has a big race win in her next preparation,” he said.
California Wish is part-owned by Gary Richards who was elated with the win.
“We are thrilled with what this filly has done this time in and hopefully she can come back and go on with it next prep,” Richards said.
“Winning this race is great because she more than doubled her prizemoney.”
“She only missed winning once in four starts this prep, if you don’t count the time she left the gates without the rider and was declared a non-runner.”
“But I will be asking my brother Dean (Richards) not to come to the races when she races because each time he’s watched her run something has either gone wrong or she didn’t place,” he said.
Richards and a few of his fellow owners will be at the Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling sale today with the hope of finding another star galloper.
The sale starts at 1 pm at the Inveresk Showground sales complex in Launceston.