MIC MAC WINS BUT WHOBEGOTYOU AGAIN THE EYE-CATCHER
EMERGING star, Mic Mac, continued his meteoric rise with a fighting win in the Group 2 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday but it was Whobegotyou that continued his early dominance of Cox Plate markets.
Mic Mac, $3.10fav, got away with some easy early sectionals in front which proved the difference with Whobegotyou, $4, forced to come from second last to get within a length and a quarter of the winner.
Whobegotyou produced the fastest sectional splits over the final 600m (33.69sec) reeling off 11.43sec, 10.93 and 11.33. Despite this outstanding second-up effort there are still those who question whether he should be as short ($6.50) for the Cox Plate.
Jockey Steven King said Whobegotyou's performance was particularly impressive given the tempo suited Mic Mac, which strolled through the first 1000m in 61.49sec.
Mic Mac, highlight of a winning treble for jockey Danny Nikolic, has now won seven of his eight starts. “He got away with soft sectionals in the first half of the race but Von Costa De Hero applied the pressure very solidly at the 500,” Nikolic said.
“He was there for something to run over the top of him if he hadn’t been good enough but he stood up. I think he is a very good horse and potentially could be up there with the top horses but he has to be ridden in the right fashion. He is a better chaser and would be better horse in a fast run race with a sit.”
The David Hayes-trained Von Costa De Hero, being labeled the ‘bookies horse of the decade’ dropped out to finish second last. Zarita did a good job to finish third with Viewed and Efficient in fourth and fifth placings.
Mic Mac’s trainer Greg Eurell said: “It was an interesting race. It wasn’t run exactly how we would have liked it. There was a little tense moment after straightening when the other horse came up to challenge him but he dug deep and found under pressure and I think that is what good weight-for-age horses do.
Eurell said Mic Mac would now head to the $500,000 Dato Tin Chin Nam Stakes, 1600, at Moonee Valley on September. 12. “It will probably be run a little differently over a mile and it would be great to see what he can do. That will be the pivotal point of his campaign.”
Mark Read’s IASbet.com has Whobegotyou at $6.50 in early betting on the Cox Plate (October 24). Mic Mac has firmed to the fourth line at $14. El Segundo is at $11 and Predatory Pricer at $13. Denman is an $18 chance.
GROUP 2 $200,000 MEMSIE STAKES WFA 1400m
MIC MAC $3.10FAV 1; Whobegotyou $4 2; Zarita $31 3.
CAULFIELD ON SATURDAY: EIGHT RACES
FOUR FAVORITES were successful. FOUR WINNERS at double figure odds (Figure of Speech at $41 the roughest on the day).
