ANDREW Dale will have the biggest runner of his career when Forgotten Spirit tackles the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic at Aquis Park (Gold Coast) on Saturday.
While the two-year-old filly won’t race in Dale’s name after he transferred her to Scott Morissey’s care for the preparation in Queeensland, hoop Linda Meech will don the well-recognised maroon and white ADR colours.
The Magic Millions Carnival and in particular, the 2YO Classic is a huge occasion for any trainer given it’s one of the richest and most well-respected days on the calendar, let alone a horseman from the country town of Wangaratta.
“The whole process has been great, from the breaking in to the education done down here early days to then sending her up to Scott (Morissey) – it’s been a fantastic ride,” Dale said.
“To get to the Magic Millions Classic is fantastic considering there’s 1200-1300 yearlings purchased at the Magic Millions every year and we’re now in the top 16 of those.”
Dale, along with long-time friends Stephen Hines, Tom Royal and Scott Bailey sit in the ownership group after the daughter of Spirit Of Boom was purchased for $100,000 at the 2024 sales.
“The friendship between all of the owners goes back a long way from our junior footy and schooling days,” Dale said.
“It’s pretty special to be in a horse like this with guys I’ve known for 40-50 years.
The Magic Millions Classic runs a field of 16 runners with the order of entry based on prize money accumulated.
Forgotten Spirit just snuck into the field of 16 after earning $60,000 from a third-place finish in the $250,000 The Debut and second in the $125,000 Gold Pearl.
“She’s had a pretty good lead-up and Scott (Morissey) has done a great job with her program,” Dale said.
“From The Debut to the Gold Pearl and now into the Magic Millions, the planning has been great and she’s in terrific order heading into Saturday.
“Speaking to Scott on the phone he reckons she was a little bit off her best in the Gold Pearl where she ran second so he’s hopeful she’s going to be peaking come Saturday.”
At Tuesday’s barrier draw, the filly was assigned gate 11 with Meech to ride and installed as a $31 outsider with Sportsbet where she has since come in to $27.
For Dale, a run in the top half a dozen would be a great result.
“She’s drawn a bit of a sticky barrier but they go ridiculously quick and we saw that in the Gold Pearl so if that’s the case again hopefully it’ll stretch the field out and we might be able to sneak in behind the first three or four,” he said.
“The owners were really keen to get Linda Meech onboard, as soon as we found out we were in (the race) the whole ownership group knew she was the one we wanted to book.
“Going off her first two runs I definitely feel a run in the top six or so is achievable.”
