Written by Paul Vettise
Confidence is a major factor in all sporting success and Tumbler Ridge’s (Spill The Beans) was significantly boosted ahead of Saturday’s G2 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Guineas on his home track at Eagle Farm.
The Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted-trained Tumbler Ridge was a clear-cut winner at Doomben at his most recent appearance and a return to the form that saw him a black-type placegetter as a 2-year-old.
He is one of two live feature race contenders for the stable with the promising filly Stellar Magic (Star Turn) shaping as a leading prospect in the Treasury Brisbane Dalrello S. after a strong start to her career.
Tumbler Ridge got home well for fourth at Doomben before he returned to his best last time out over 1615 metres, and while he faces a sterner test in the Guineas he is in the right order to rise to the challenge.
“He’s definitely come back well and gave us every indication this preparation that he was going to relish getting out to a mile,” Hoysted said.
“He put the writing on the wall two runs back over 1350 metres when he really hit the line strongly. It was then good to see him a put a field away and it was a confidence-boosting win.
"It was then good to see him (Tumbler Ridge) a put a field away and it was a confidence-boosting win." - Matthew Hoysted
“He always performs well at Eagle Farm, he’ll love the mile again and we couldn’t have him any better going in to Saturday’s race. It’s another step-up in class again, but he’s definitely deserving of his chance.”
Connections have also remained loyal with apprentice Justin Huxtable, who has been aboard Tumbler Ridge in his last two appearances.
Pace on display
Stellar Magic is blessed with a speedy pedigree as a daughter of Al’s Magic Miss (Magic Albert), who was successful twice as a 2-year-old and has produced two other multiple sprint winners.
Al’s Magic Miss is out of another dual juvenile winner and stakes performer in Carlton Ace (Bianconi {USA}) and is a half-sister to Carlton Spirit (Fraar {USA}), who won an edition of the Listed Debutante S.
Stellar Magic was bought out of Yarraman Park Stud’s Inglis Classic Yearling draft for $100,000 by Proven Thoroughbreds and with two wins and two placings from four starts is well on the way to repaying that initial investment.
Stellar Magic
“There’s probably a case to say she should be unbeaten. She was luckless at her first start when second and then it was greenness that saw her beaten two back,” Hoysted said. “She had her ears pricked out in front and was waiting for the others horses waiting to get to her.
“We rode her quietly at Eagle Farm the other day and she’s got a really good turn of foot and even then she wanted to clock off.
“She’s still putting it all together and is not the finished product just yet. She has a perfect draw and hopefully she can get a sit and have something to chase down.
“She’s doing it on raw ability so there’s plenty of upside to her. She has taken plenty out of her last win and she’s gained confidence as well.”
One to follow over ground
Hoysted and O’Dea will also be represented by Missed The Alarm (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) in the Treasury Brisbane BM75 H. over 1400 metres.
The 5-year-old, winner of five races including one on her home turf, hasn’t raced since she finished fourth at the Gold Coast in early December and has had a recent trial outing at Doomben.
“She’s obviously more of a staying type, but we have done a fair bit of work with her to get her up to the mark,” Hoysted said.
Missed The Alarm has yet to win at less than 1700 metres and is expected to come to her best form later in her preparation.
“You’ll see the best of her once we can stretch her out over a bit further,” Hoysted said.
