Smart mare Egyptian Symbol will return to the Gold Coast in January for the third time in search of a win over the rich 2018 Magic Millions Carnival.
Egyptian Symbol, above, has earned a trip back to the Gold Coast for the 2018 Magic Millions Carnival. Photo by Steve Hart.
Egyptian Symbol was back in the winner’s stall last Saturday with a victory with Jason Collett in the saddle in the Listed $125,000 Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill and trainer Bjorn Baker is considering heading to Queensland without another run before lining up in the $1m Magic Millions Sprint (1200m) on January 13.
“I might freshen her up and go to the Gold Coast without another run before the Magic Millions Sprint,’’ Baker told The Sunday Telegraph.
“She has been there the last two years, running third in the three-year-old race (Guineas) where she was bit unlucky, then last year we rode her on the speed (Mares) and it didn’t work.
“You live and learn over time and we realise she is a much better mare when ridden a touch quieter early like she was today.
“She is a high quality mare, so it is good to see her back winning like that — she is set up for a good campaign.’’
Egyptian Symbol’s last two ventures to the Gold Coast resulted in two third placings in the 2015 Group 3 $150,000 Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) and in the 2016 $2m Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (1400m) and a sixth in January this year to Private Secretary in the $1m Magic Millions Fillies and Mares (1300m).
Last Saturday’s Starlight Stakes win was Egyptian Symbol’s first visit to the winner’s circle for almost twelve months since winning the $100,000 Wyong Magic Millions 3yo & 4yp (1200m) last December but Baker has been happy with her form since against some smart opposition.
The Stratum mare was second to the quality sprinter In Her Time in the Group 2 $200,000 China Horse Club Breeders Classic (1200m) at Randwick on February 4 and she was also runner up to Eckstein Group 3 $150,000 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1300m) at Eagle Farm during the 2017 Brisbane Winter Carnival.
“She is a bit stronger, particularly behind, and you hope that helps her to improve a little more,’’ Baker said.
“I don’t think she has to improve much on what she showed us during the year. Her form has been very good even though she didn’t win.
“She ran second to In Her Time, ran second in another race to Eckstein, and the form out of those races has been outstanding.”
Baker also tested Egyptian Symbol in Group 1 company during the Brisbane Winter Carnival but she was well beaten on both occasions for a seventh in the Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) and an eighth in the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1350m) at Doomben.
“I know her Stradbroke Handicap and Tatt’s Tiara runs were below her best but she might have come to the end of her preparation,” Baker said.
Egyptian Symbol has six wins and eight placings from twenty starts and has earned over $662,000 in prizemoney.