Direct has been a model of consistency over his now 15 start career, rarely missing a place and promising plenty after running third in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes behind star colt Home Affairs.
He’s now starting to deliver on that foundation, recording his third win from as many starts this time in, taking out the Magic Millions 3 & 4Yo Classic on Ballarat Cup day as the $5.50 second elect.
The small query heading into the race was the step to 1100m given he hadn’t managed to win over the trip from three starts, but trainer Lloyd Kennewell was confident his class would shine through.
“I had to turn the radio off, the TV off, everyone was saying he couldn’t run 1100 (metres) but he was clearly the best horse in the race and he won like it,” Kennewell said.
Gelded leading into this preparation, Kennewell is pleased to see his once promising stallion prospect is delivering some results on the racetrack.
“It’s a shame (gelding him). I thought he was one of the best colts in the sale when I bought him… He’s a 20- or 30-million-dollar colt if he had won a Group 1, but he’s not. Here we are now, everyone’s happy and he’ll be on the float to the Gold Coast,” Kennewell said.
Jockey Zac Spain pointed to Direct’s race craft as the reason for him running out a strong 1100m this time around.
“He’s doing it the right way. He’s settling well. There were doubters about him getting 1100 (metres), but he was strong. He got to the front and had a good look around, but if something came at him, he would have gone again,” Spain said.
