Trainer Les Ross and owners Mike Crooks will have three representatives in next week’s Magic Millions 2yo Classic after Mishani Spartan detented a few reputations with a dominant performance in Saturday’s $125,000 Aquis Gold Nugget (1100m) at the Gold Coast.
With Brett Prebble in the saddle, Mishani Spartan was last on the turn.
With most jockeys keen to get off the fence, Prebble darted back to the rails on the son of Husson (ARG). The response was immediate, and Mishani Spartan exploded away to defeat the Supido colt Stupendo by three-quarters of a length with a further one and a quarter length back to the Spirit Of Boom colt Allude in third.
Mishani Spartan is now two for two, having won similarly over 1200m at Ipswich when on debut on New Year’s Eve.
Mishani Spartan will join stablemates Mishani Warfare and Mishani Persuasion in next weeks $2million feature.
“It was very exciting. I feel a bit sorry for Wacko Jacko (Jackson Morris) who has done a lot of work for the stable,” Ross said.
“That gives a three in the Millions, so look out.
“He came from last the other day at Ipswich, and he came back from 1200m to 1100m.
‘A big shout out to John Thompson who told Wacko after the race the other day if you put blinkers on these horses improve ten lengths.
“I don’t know if he improved ten, but he certainly improved.”
A homebred for Mike Crooks’ Mishani Enterprises, Mishani Spartan is the fourth winner from as many foals of the Flying Spur mare Monicelli.
A 3-time winner from 11 starts for Les Ross, Monicelli is a daughter of the royally related Sadler’s Wells mare Donatella a sister to the Group 1 Fillies Mile runner-up Dance To The Top and half-sister to Polar Bear, a stakes-winner in England and Australia and second behind El Segundo in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes.
Monicelli has a yearling colt by Top Echelon and a filly foal by The Mission. She was bred back to The Mission last spring.
Husson (ARG) stands at Aquis Farm for a fee of $4,400.
