Crowd favourite The Candy Man is headed for a short spell before being prepared for a Sydney autumn campaign.
The Candy Man ran sixth as favourite in Saturday’s Magic Millions Trophy (2400m) won by Primitivo after looking in contention on the home turn.
The popular grey was found to be suffering from the thumps after the race but was otherwise injury-free.
Brisbane trainer Barry Baldwin was disappointed but far from deflated after the run.
He felt a combination of the gelding’s 61kg and the way the race was run had contributed to the result.
“The Candy Man was booked in for a break at a spelling property even before Saturday,” Baldwin said.
“He has been up for a good while this time dating back to a Sydney campaign for the (Group One) Epsom.
“He can have a break and then we will head to Sydney for the Doncaster Mile.”
Baldwin said it was The Candy Man’s unplaced run in the Epsom which gave him confidence to return to Sydney for the $3 million Doncaster at Randwick on April 4.
“If you look at the sectionals his run in the Epsom was one of the best,” he said.
After the Doncaster The Candy Man is set to return to Brisbane to prepare for the new $1.5 million Q22 race at weight for age over 2200 metres on Stradbroke Handicap day at Eagle Farm in June.
