Smart Missile colt is Guineas-bound

Mick Price is looking ahead with some confidence to the Bill Stutt Stakes and the Caulfield Guineas after Masculino’s all-the-way win over 1509 metres at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

It was the first try in city company for the son of Smart Missile after his 2YO debut win last April, and an easy victory over 1400 metres at Cranbourne on 27 August. 

Jake Noonan took advantage of Masculino’s ace draw to roll forward and take up the lead where the colt settled comfortably, despite being pressed in the middle stages by Sheer Madness.

Coming round the turn, Masculino had all his rivals in trouble except the top-weighted Eshtiraak who emerged quickly to challenge, but was held at bay by Masculino who rallied gamely to win by a long neck with Sunquest third.

Watch Masculino win at Moonee Valley.

Mick Price said, “I was happy that he won, he does have some improvement in him, I think he’s going to be a nice big Flemington horse if he trains on after the Caulfield Guineas.

“He handled Moonee Valley well, the Bill Stutt will be a little bit tougher but that will be the way he’s going.”

Bred by Grant Ahearn & David Yu, Masculino is the second winner left by Special Melody (by Encosta de Lago), an unraced daughter of three-time Group 1 winner Special Harmony and sister to multiple stakeswinner Little Surfer Girl. Special Melody is due to foal this Spring to Not A Single Doubt. 

Masculino was offered by Glastonbury Stud at the 2016 Magic Millions Sale where Mick Price & Luke Wilkinson bought him for $120,000.

Already 2015/16’s Champion First Season Sire  and the 2016/17 Leading Second Season Sire by winners, Smart Missile is off to an excellent start this season. His 15 winners and more than $600,000 prizemoney give him an early lead among Australia’s stallions with three crops of racing age, and 15th spot on the General Sires’ table.