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The pride of Gundagai was cruelled at the Rosehill Guineas barrier trial on Wednesday morning, but trainer Michael Murphy says Merlin Mustang is ready for his biggest test yet.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Australian Derby-bound son of Nothin' Leica Dane will jump from barrier 19 in his maiden Group 1 appearance, but that won't stop the punting fraternity in Gundagai shelling a few dollars on their three-year-old champion.
“Everyone's got behind the horse,” Murphy said of his home-town faithful.
“It's something that they all have a few dollars on and it puts a few dollars in their pockets when he wins.”
Murphy, a trainer of only six years, knew he had a special horse in November last year when Merlin Mustang won a trial at Gundagai.
He did it easily against a previous Sydney winner, and after a slow start to his campaign the three-year-old broke through with a maiden win at Kembla.
Two weeks later he won a Class 1 at Kembla and the Gundagai public started to take note.
The classy galloper made it a hat-trick at Kembla next time in, before his most defining race to date – a third placing at Rosehill behind Randwick Guineas placegetters Said Com and Laser Hawk.
Unsurprisingly Murphy's horse went out and won his next start in town, then was only three lengths away two weekends back in his debut at listed level.
“We were around the mark with Laser Hawk and Said Com so it [the Randwick Guineas] franked his form a little bit,” Murphy said.
“We're happy with how our horse is going. The barrier draw's a little bit of a setback but he's going really well.
“It's a very strong race. It's a big field so tactics will play a part.
“I was just looking at the computer then having a look at where everyone else has drawn and things like that.
“We'll just take our time and have a talk to [jockey] Brenton [Avdulla].
“They've got a good long run there at Rosehill before the first turn so we'll just see.”
Merlin Mustang is rated a $41 shot in the race with TAB Sportsbet fixed odds.
New Zealand galloper Silent Achiever is the $4.20 favourite while Gai Waterhouse talent Laser Hawk is next elect at $5.
Murphy spent most of yesterday at the Gundagai race track, which is still recovering from the raging floods which swept through the town earlier this year.
“We've still got to straighten the running rail and do some things,” Murphy said.
Gundagai's annual Cup meeting has been transferred to Wagga this Sunday.
