Premier trainer Chris Waller has nominated Starman as his leading contender for the Magic Millions Guineas following his gutsy return to racing.
The three-year-old was gelded after he finished fourth at Gosford in September and Waller said it had made a significant difference.
That showed on the racetrack on Saturday when Starman ($5 equal fav) pulled out all stops to deny barn mate Sacrimony ($7.50) by a half-head in the Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Sprint (1200m) with Warrior Hero ($7.50) third, another three-quarters of a length in arrears.
“Unfortunately, he had to be gelded but I think it has made a racehorse out of him,” Waller said.
“He will be our main hope heading towards the Magic Millions three-year-old race.”
Waller made the unusual decision to run Starman just four days after he won a barrier trial at Canterbury.
He said the stable felt Saturday’s race was a perfect fit and prioritised that over the imperfect timing.
“It is unusual but the race looked perfect,” Waller said.
“There is an 1100 metre race next week but who knows what the track conditions will be like, the barrier draw he is going to get, and he’s an animal so anything can happen in seven days.
“It is not ideal, but we don’t give our horses hard trials.
“I feel (barrier) draws and (track) conditions are more important than spacing (races).”
Runner-up Sacrimony, by Lost And Running’s sire Per Incanto, is also lightly raced and Waller expects he will continue to improve as he matures.
The previously unbeaten Snitzonfire started equal favourite with Starman but had to do some work early from a wide draw and was far from disgraced to finish fourth.