Both Paul Snowden and James McDonald agreed Sovereign Fund has a toughness that is rare in two-year-olds after his commanding near 1.5-length victory in the Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic.
The debutant colt displayed expert tactical nous to produce a turn of foot when needed as he rounded the turn in the 1100m Listed sprint worth $200,000.
He wasn’t headed from there.
2022 Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic Replay – Sovereign Fund
It is why he is now a $12 winning chance with online betting sites for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast on January 14.
“It was a tradesman-like performance. He put himself in a really good spot, and he travelled strongly,” McDonald told Sky Racing.
“He’s a two-year-old who’s big and strong. And he’ll cope with a preparation into the Magic Millions.
“If he improves off that, he’s definitely a very good chance.
“He’ll improve a lot, no doubt about that. And he’s got tactical speed.
“Nice horse.”
Snowden said Sovereign Fund has rapidly developed physically and mentally, which is why he fancies his chances in the sought-after $2 million feature over 1200m next month.
The astute conditioner added the fast pace of Wednesday’s race suited his emerging sprinter.
“He’s really come a long way in a short space of time,” Snowden said.
“It was an initial fast tempo and we drew so well.
“Everyone jumped clean and it gave us a lovely cut into the race.
“James did enough and he was the strongest late, and that was what we wanted.”
Snowden has worked Sovereign Fund hard on the track, and this was why he presented in such fine condition to win at Wyong.
What a difference a bit of hard toil can make.
The young colt started out lacking confidence, but you wouldn’t have thought so on Wednesday.
“He was a very unassuming, shy horse and didn’t like getting cluttered up between other runners,” Snowden said.
“That was quite evident in that first trial (finishing fifth over 850m at Randwick on September 19).
“We’ve done a lot of trackwork with him and tinkered with a bit of gear.”
That work came to the fore as Sovereign Fund’s winning opportunity presented itself while moving onto the straight.
“Once he got a bit of air, he was really strong through the line,” Snowden said.
“He’s a pretty tough horse, this bloke. He’s got a fair bit of constitution about him.
“He’s pretty strong and tough, so he’ll get up there (Gold Coast) in good order.”
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