Trainers Sean and Jake Casey threw their hats into the ring for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a professional youngster at Ascot on Saturday.
Their Safeguard first-starter Snow Prince was unveiled after a Belmont trial win earlier this month and a debut booking for Willie Pike was another pointer to his prospects in a solo dress-rehearsal for the $250,000 sales-related feature at Pinjarra on Saturday, February 18.
Snow Prince lived up to those expectations while controlling his initial outing outside front-runner Stromy’s Salute (A Lot). After sprinting to a winnable lead at the furlong, he knuckled like a good horse and it will take an extra smart one for Pike to get off his back.
“He sweated up before the race but didn’t overdo it,” Pike reported. “We got into a great position and he set up the race from there. He was ready to strike and then it was time to rock and roll.”
Snow Prince will go into the Magic Millions Grand-Final without another run depending on how he pulls up this week. “He comes from a family that runs plus he looked the type to get up and go early,” Jake Casey said.
“We’re looking forward to the Magic Millions and he’s rates up there with the best of our 2yo team.” The Caseys have the best of their more-seasoned team flying out the Melbourne autumn carnival on Tuesday.
The Bullsbrook-based father-and-son train him for Yenrise principal Wally Daly and his wife Maureen. Offered by Gold Front Breeding & Racing (as agent), he made a mere $30,000 at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions.
Snow Prince is the third Ascot juvenile winner this season for Safeguard (Exceed And Excel) following More Special and Soaring Solo. The latter claimed the Crystal Slipper Stakes in November.
The Mogumber Park stallion has come close to Magic Millions Classic honours in recent years with placegetters Miss West Coast (2019) and Surveillance (2020) and he will be home and hosed for a second WA 2YO Sires’ title if going one better at Pinjarra this year.
With Snow Prince’s Westspeed Platinum bonus included, he currently has over $340,000 in 2yo prizemoney from second-placed Snippetson ($138,000).
Snow Prince is the third winner from as many foals from Snow Pixie (Snitzel). Fellow Mogumber-based Rommel sired her first two feature winners Pixie Chix (RL Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy) and Snowdome (G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes).
