APTLY-NAMED Claro El Banco earned himself a trip to Queensland with a brilliant victory in the $200,000 Magic Millions 2yo Clockwise Classic, 1000m, in Ballarat on Saturday.
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Claro El Banco ($15), which translates in Spanish to Clear The Bank, lived up to his name with a virtual all-the-way win over the Gai Waterhouse colt Preferito ($3.30 favourite), with She’s Positive ($5) finishing strongly to get third.
Part-owners Peter Seaman, an ambulance driver at Mornington on racedays, and his partner Norma Joyce “cleaned up” when they backed the Statute of Liberty colt at $27 during the week. It is their first venture into horse ownership and are keenly looking toward the next step of going on to the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast in January.
Mornington trainer Jason Petch said the Cold Coast trip for the Magic Millions 2yo Classic was “definitely on” at this stage. “Why wouldn’t you after a win like that,” he said.
Jockey Craig Newitt bounced Claro El Banco out smartly from the barrier and quickly sped to the lead to set up a break of almost three lengths mid-race.
He turned for home with a clear two-length break and never really looked in danger.
Hewitt told Petch the horse did everything right and he had the race won a long way from home. Claro El Blanco was an $80,000 buy at the Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale.
He was the only starter in the event with racing experience, having finished last on debut at Flemington.
COMEBACK duo trainer Brendan McCarthy and jockey Chris Symons combined for a remarkable repeat victory with Murt The Flirt ($5) in the $100,000 Magic Millions 3yo and 4yo Classic, 1100m.
McCarthy and Symons combined to win the race last year when it was restricted to three-year-olds.
They are just back on the racing scene - McCarthy after serving a three-months suspension and Symons after recovering from injuries.
There were wild scenes in the mounting yard after the race with an army of owners from Southern Racing, and Top Racing along with syndicate members from Ampulla Lodge and DDPMS.
McCarthy said Murt The Flirt would head to Queensland for the Magic Millions, but might be aimed at the Wyong Classic on the way to the Gold Coast.