An eye-catching debut has encouraged trainer Brad Widdup to take a chance and give promising colt Anthropoid the opportunity to press his Magic Millions claims in Saturday’s $1 million Golden Gift at Rosehill.

Anthropoid finished strongly into fourth in the Kirkham Plate (1000m), getting back to last before hitting the line in impressive style, and the rise to 1100m appears suitable at this stage of his preparation.

Widdup initially intended to give the Prague colt just the one run this spring, but that debut effort forced a rethink.

“I wasn’t going to push on too much further than the other day, but he didn’t get a fair crack at them really, and he was good late,” Widdup said.

“He is a Magic Millions horse. I don’t want to keep thinning out the string, but we will see what happens. We’ll get through Saturday and see what sort of prizemoney he earns.

“If he runs below par, he will have a good break, and if he races well, we probably have to freshen him up and think about it.”

Anthropoid, by second-season sire Prague, was purchased for $180,000 and races for Mulberry Racing, whose presence in the industry has expanded significantly in recent seasons.

Mulberry Racing held a slot in this year’s The Everest and race Widdup’s quality sprinter Jedibeel, who lines up in the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday. Widdup will also saddle Sunset Park in the Matriarch Stakes (2000m).

Widdup said Anthropoid appealed immediately at the sales, and confidence has been boosted by the recent city win of his Exceedance half-sister Stagnum, prepared by Team Hawkes.

“He was a really nice horse at the sales and he looked buyable at a sale that is pretty hard to buy at,” Widdup said.

“He has always been a very straightforward horse, a sensible colt. He will only improve as he gets older and he’s ticking over nicely.”

Tyler Schiller takes the ride from the favourable inside draw.

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