Material Man To Draw On Vega Inspiration
Vega Magic earned rave reviews at Ascot on Saturday after he produced a heroic performance to win the Amelia Park Roma Cup (1200m).
Overcoming a long stint on the sidelines and fending off retirement talks, Vega Magic defied the sceptics with a superb first-up win.
The comeback victory was also testament to the horsemanship skills of Sean Casey and his son Jake in nursing the gelding to peak fitness.
Trainer Jason Miller will look to draw on the Casey’s and Vega Magic as inspiration for Material Man’s return to racing in a fortnight.
In similar vein to Vega Magic, Material Man has been off the scene for eight months and is also coming off indifferent form.
Miller is hopeful the rising nine-year-old can make a fairy-tale debut for the stable in the Group 3 Belmont Sprint (1400m) on May 30.
Miller’s confidence in the son of Vital Equine boosted after he completed his second trial in winning fashion at Lark Hill on Monday.
After running second to We’ve Got Dreams, a subsequent winner at Ascot, in a 1000m heat at Bunbury, Material Man worked home strongly over 1100m.
Miller says Material Man will be close to his top in the Belmont Sprint.
“He trialled well and has pulled up real well,” Miller told The Races WA.
“I’ve got him as good as I can get him going.
“Hopefully he will improve a little bit fitness wise on the trial.
“But he is ready to go and I’m happy with him.
“If you get them right and happy they can still come back.
“He has done everything right since entering the stable.
“It’s hard to compare to his other preps because I didn’t have him, but all I can go on is he is a happy and well horse.”
Material Man has won close to $1.8 million in earnings from his 14 wins and seven placings.
He won a bulk of that prize money under the guidance of Justin Warwick.
With Pounamu Material shared WA Horse of the Year honours in 2018.
Julio Santarelli.