Ninja will take a final hit-out at stakes level this weekend as he sharpens up for his Magic Millions Guineas assignment on the Gold Coast.
The lightly raced son of Farnan lines up in Saturday’s $300,000 Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) at Eagle Farm, marking his first appearance in black-type company.
With just four starts on his resume, the MyRacehorse-owned gelding sits at the top of betting for the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, and trainer Michael Freedman is pleased with how the preparation has unfolded.
“He’s great, he had a jumpout midweek last week at the Gold Coast just to keep his fitness up,” Freedman said.
“I’d always planned for him to go into Magic Millions Guineas third-up.
“Knowing that he was going to be four weeks between, that’s why he had the 1000-metre jumpout last week, just to keep him up to the mark.”
Ninja’s sole run this preparation produced a close-up third in the 1200m Pierata Plate at Doomben on December 6, where he was beaten just half-a-length by Grafterburners.
Andrew Adkins rode on that occasion, but Tommy Berry takes the reins on Saturday with Freedman acknowledging the wide draw as the main obstacle.
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly out in gate 12, that’s a little bit of a concern and something he’s going to have to try and overcome, but the horse himself is in great form,” Freedman said.
Firming to as short as $2.40 for the Vo Rogue Plate, Ninja’s performance will play a key role in shaping Guineas markets ahead of January 17, with punters able to compare prices through leading Australian betting sites.