Market mover I’m A Rippa has justified punters’ confidence; leading from start to finish to win the Magic Millions QTIS Open (1300m) this afternoon.
Trainer Tony Gollan was pleased with the horse’s condition prior to jump and that confidence was echoed in our market, where I’m A Rippa firmed into $6 odds, having opened at a $9 quote.
Jumping from the gates well, jockey Steve Baster allowed the horse to stride forward and take up the running; setting a reasonable tempo for the field alongside the likes of Upstart Pride and Sailor Gerri.
Kicking clear upon arriving at the final straight, the Love Conquers All gelding maintained a strong sprint to hit the line a half-length ahead of a fast-finishing Secret Trail; She’s Miss Devine running on to finish third.
Gollan said that I’m A Rippa isn’t the most talented horse in his stable after the race, but is a real trier and deserving of a win at the Magic Millions.
“I gave him a fluker’s chance I guess because he has to make his own luck and he’s just a real tough little horse,” Gollan said.
“He’s not the best horse I’ve trained, but he’s a tough little fella and it’s great to buy a Queensland horse, come back here and race in a $1 million race. It’s just phenomenal.
“It was just terrific. He wasn’t a lot of money and you can just dream to come back to a race day like this.”
Gollan will saddle leading contender Ef Troop in this afternoon’s featured $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic and will instruct jockey Michael McGillivray to take a position on pace, in a similar vein to He’s A Rippa.
“There won’t be too many tactic changes,” he said.
Secret Trail ($11) received a sprinkling of bets in the hours leading up to jump and went close to running down I’m A Rippa in the final strides of the Magic Millions QTIS Open, while race favourite Havasay ($5) worked home well to finish on the heels of the leading group.
It’s just under three hours until Gollan saddles Ef Troop in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, who currently occupies the second line of betting.