Classy Sydney galloper Velrosso denied Phelan Ready a drought breaking feature race win when he held on to win the $400,000 Avmin – Air Charter Specialists Magic Millions Cup (1400m) on Saturday.
Velrosso and Club Command were fighting for supremacy over the concluding stages when the former Magic Million Classic and Golden Slipper winner Phelan Ready charged from the tail of the field.
In a head bobbing finish Velrosso got the photo by a half head in the race record time of 1 minute 20.93 seconds.
When the horses flashed past the winning post, Velrosso’s trainer Chris Waller thought he might have been pipped by his less fancied rival.
“He was aided by a great rde and he is obviously a well bred horse,” Waller said. “When Phelan Ready lunged I thought he might’ve beaten us.”
“It is great to have Gerry Harvey here to enjoy the occasions. We don’t get him here very often but thank god we have today.”
Winning rider Damien Oliver said things went to plan during the race and his classy ride just did enough to get the result in a photo finish.
“It was a good win and he had a lovely run,” Oliver said. “I always thought that he was going to win, but he took forever to get there and he only just held on in the end.”
“I actually won his first start in a race on him, as a two-year-old, and the second win has been a long time coming,” Oliver added.
The win delighted Velrosso’s breeder and part owner Gerry Harvey who bought back into the son of General Nediym after selling him to trainer Chris Waller for $240,000 at the 2010 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“This is what it is all about,” Harvey said. “It’s a great thrill to win a feature race on Magic Millions Raceday.”
With the win, his sixth in just 18 starts, Velrosso sent his earnings soaring past $522,000.
Velrosso, by former Magic Millions Classic winner General Nediym, is a full brother to Pago Pago Stakes winner Sidereus.
His half sister, the unraced Reenact mare Super Nanny, is the dam of New Zealand based winner and group placegetter Role Model.
VELROSSO
(General Nediym-Hootenanny)
$240,000 at 2010 Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Baramul Stud
Buyer: Chris Waller Racing
