Sutton Grange trainer Brent Stanley has never lacked confidence when it comes to throwing his horses in at the deep end.
His promising filly It's Kind Of Magic booked a ticket to the Gold Coast for the lucrative Magic Millions carnival after scoring a tough first-up win at The Valley.
Sitting three-wide outside the leaders in the Leneva Park Handicap (1200m) on Saturday, It's Kind Of Magic took over soon after straightening under jockey Brett Prebble, racing clear for a decisive victory.
Stanley said the filly would now head to the $2 million Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) on January 11.
Heavily supported from $2.50 to $2.15, It's Kind Of Magic scored by 1-1/4 lengths from Shezawitness ($11) with Tragic ($9) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
Stanley said he would not shy away from taking on Caulfield Guineas runner-up Alligator Blood on the Gold Coast - now the $2 favourite after his success at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
"I've never run away from a horse before," Stanley said.
"She (It's Kind Of Magic) is a quality horse and she'll only get better at 1400 metres. It's going to suit her down to the ground.
"Her work going the reverse way has been better than going this way, so hopefully she can do it race day."
Stanley said It's Kind Of Magic had improved condition-wise after three runs in the spring that resulted in a Ballarat maiden win before running fourth at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.
He said the filly was a dream horse to train.
"She did it tough in her last preparation and she did it tough again today, but she'll go home and eat up," Stanley said.
"She's the easiest horse to train and if something goes a bit pear-shaped in the run she can get over it and still hit the line."
Prebble said he would have liked to have given the filly the chance of a rest during Saturday's race instead of being caught three wide and working.
With no cover, Prebble said It's Kind Of Magic had 'revved the motor a bit'.
"I would liked to have switched off and had a breather for 400 metres," he said.
"But that didn't happen, so I thought I'd get going early.
"She hit a flat spot, but she got through it then showed a good turn of foot and was soft on the line."
Meanwhile, a race meeting at Werribee has been cancelled because of extreme heat forecast in Victoria.
Monday's meeting had already been brought forward to start in the morning to try to avoid the high temperatures but the forecast has been revised to reach 39 degrees at 11am and a high of 43 by 2pm.
Racing Victoria consulted all participants before calling the races off in the interests of horse and human welfare.
RV said horses engaged at Werribee may be entered as extended nominations by 4pm on Sunday for the Victorian meetings on New Year's Day, with acceptances for those meetings taken on Monday morning.
Tuesday's meetings at Echuca and Warrnambool are expected to go ahead.
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