Will Hulbert believes Heroic Son can remain unbeaten when he steps out in Saturday’s 2YO Handicap at Doomben en route to the Magic Millions meeting on the Gold Coast in January.
The son of Heroic Valour was a good winner on debut over 1050m at Doomben on October 2 and has since won a jumpout under his regular rider, Adin Thompson.
Heroic Son was a $50,000 purchase at the 2021 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale, but he has already recouped that by winning $67,200 in his maiden victory.
“He can win Saturday, but I think his run in a fortnight, he’ll be cherry ripe at the Gold Coast,” Hulbert told HorseBetting.com.au.
“It’ll be good to give him a look at the Gold Coast before the Millions.”
Heroic Son will be six weeks between runs when he goes around on Saturday, with Hulbert admitting that he got “pretty fat” during his freshen up.
“He had that two weeks off after his first run and then a week on the water-walker; he’s had three weeks work back now, but he got pretty fat,” he said.
The $2 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic is the main aim for the stable with Heroic Son, and the Hulberts are yet to decide if they will give him two or three lead-up runs into that race on January 15.
“Having a look at the calendar, I haven’t really got much mapped in past this Saturday and then a fortnight later, and then we’ll reassess the goals from there,” he said.
“Get through these next two weeks and hopefully have some more money in the bank.”
Heroic Son has drawn barrier five in the eight-horse field on Saturday, so the plan will be to go forward and sit outside the likely leaders in Tony Gollan’s Saweetie and Kacy Fogden’s Battledance.
The horse showed plenty of early speed in his debut win and has done so at the trials as well, so Hulbert believes his youngster can take the lead himself if the opportunity arises.
“Tony’s horse from barrier one – they’ll probably try and lead on it being a first starter; Kacy’s has drawn four, it led its first start in a race, so put a bit of pressure on them early and see what happens,” he said.
“If we’re outside the leader or leading, or if they want to go hard then we can slot in behind them.
“He’s pretty versatile for a two-year-old.”
Heroic Son is currently a $3.60 chance in Saturday’s race and sits on the second line of betting behind Saweetie ($2.70).
