Smart Image doing it for the Far North on Magic Millions day

By Andrew Smith

Magic Millions is a long way from Cannon Park in Cairns, but Smart Image is definitely used to a change-up in scenery more than most.

The gelding will line up in the $1 million Magic Millions Snippets on Saturday in arguably the biggest race of his career.

Originally trained by Peter and Paul Snowden in Sydney, Smart Image notched up wins at Warwick Farm and Rosehill back in July 2020.

Transferred to the care of Brisbane training supremo Tony Gollan, the six-year-old then claimed victory with leading hoop James Orman on board in March 2022.

It was in October of that year that the Cairns-based Cliff Little saw an opportunity to bring the horse to the tropics.

“Cliff noticed him on an Inglis online sale, and he rang me up and said he liked the horse, and could I have a look at it?” trainer Trevor Rowe said.

“So I had a look and I couldn’t see any obvious reason why he wouldn’t be a nice horse for the north.

“So on that note, Cliff purchased him and he came up to Cairns and that’s where he stayed.

"We're a long way from Magic Millions in Far North Queensland but he just ticked all the boxes.

“It’s one of our biggest meetings in Queensland and for a horse from North Queensland to be in it, it’s just something special.”

The sprinter out of Smart Missile and from mare Shared Reflections was spelled for seven weeks on his move north but returned with a vengeance, winning five straight across Cairns and Townsville.

Following that, a plan was hatched to push Smart Image towards the lucrative Magic Millions day at Aquis Park.

After finishing last in the Listed Bribie Handicap at Eagle Farm on December 9, the gelding stormed home to take out the Magic Millions Benchmark 85 Handicap a week later, before placing third in the MM Benchmark 90 Handicap on December 30.

“Up north, we don’t have a lot of races where you can get weight relief and he started to carry a big weight,” Rowe said.

“After the Cairns Amateurs, we thought we’d give him a shot down here and I didn’t realise at the time that he was a Magic Millions graduate.

“So when we found that out, a plan was put in place for Cliff to bring him down here and try and get him into the Magic Millions.

“His first run was very good even though he was beaten, his second run he won well, and last week was a very good run.

“He’s trained on perfectly and we couldn’t be more happy with him at the moment.”

Joining forces to train with son Peter in November 2022, Trevor made the shift south to train Smart Image out of Brian Smith’s stables at Eagle Farm.

The combination has proven fruitful for the father-and-son duo so far, but Saturday’s $1 million race would no doubt be the biggest win of the partnership.

Peter will make the trek down from the Far North to ensure he is on hand for the big race.

“It’s a race that I don’t want him to miss, so all fingers crossed it works out best for us,” Trevor said.

“The partnership is working extremely well, particularly when things like this happen - I’m down here to and from and I can leave the horses at home in capable hands with Pete.

“With only the one horse here to look after, it’s pretty easy compared to poor old Pete at home looking after the other thirty.

“It’s completely different to home - we’re pretty relaxed people in North Queensland but I still enjoy coming down here and catching up with Brian, and my son lives down here so I can catch up with family and have a bit of a relaxing time.”

The Snowden-trained favourite King Of Sparta ($1.80) will jump from the three on Saturday with James McDonald in the saddle.

After being on board in Smart Image’s last two outings, Damien Thornton will again partner with the gelding who has drawn barrier eight in the 1200 metre trip.

“I think he shapes well - he’s been fairly consistent this prep, first up he probably got back a little bit out of his racing pattern, he just didn’t begin well and a bit of a victim of circumstances there, but found the line ok,” Thornton said.

“He began a lot better his next two and I’ve been the beneficiary of that and he’s won and run really well his next one.

“He’s certainly going well if you watch his last couple of runs and hopefully he can reproduce again on Saturday.

“The distance suits better than the 1000 of last time, and if he gets in front, hopefully he gets left alone and he’s got that higher cruising speed but if they go fast, he can take a sit and we sort it out on the day.”

Trevor added: “I’m not concerned about the barrier - we’ve got a very good jockey riding him, and I’m sure he’ll make the right decisions.

“I’d like to see him with a bit of cover if possible but if it’s not to be I’m sure Damien will give him every chance.”

For Thornton, Saturday is the chance to go out on a winning note after confirming he would return to Victoria after this weekend.

The two-time Group 1 winner has a full book of rides to cap off an almost year-long stint in the Sunshine State that included the Queensland Racing Carnival.

Following a rewarding twelve months riding Cifrado to victory in two Group 2 races and the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate last month, he will again partner the gelding in the $3 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas tomorrow.

“I haven’t ridden Magic Millions day but I have ridden through a lot of other carnivals in Sydney and Melbourne,” Thornton said.

“I daresay it’ll be fairly similar to their big days - big crowd, good horses, good riders, trainers etc but as usual, it's just good to be a part of.”