JOCKEY Nathan Berry gave trainer Bjorn Baker all the encouragement he needed to switch his focus to April’s Golden Slipper Stakes after steering Testa Rosa colt Unencumbered to an emphatic win in yesterday’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast.
Unencumbered (2c Testa Rossa – Blizzardly by More Than Ready) enjoyed a good run under Nathan Berry for most of the race and then chased down Oakleigh Girl for a three-quarter length win.
Winning jockey Nathan Berry has crafted a formidable alliance with the star colt winning five from five aboard the colt and is confident the horse will measure up in the world’s richest 2YO race.
Berry predicted more riches were within reach for the brilliant colt following his latest win. “I’m telling you, we haven’t seen the best of this horse yet,” Berry declared.
Unencumbered was having his sixth start at his sixth different location since October 26 in the Millions in what is remarkable illustration of toughness and mental application.
“We will give him a break now and have a look at the Golden Slipper,” jubilant trainer Bjorn Baker said. “His attitude has been the key. He has just kept getting better and he has been so relaxed about it.”
Purchased by Bjorn Baker for $70,000 at the 2013 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Unencumbered has already turned into an incredible money spinner for connections with earnings now over $1.78 million.
Testa Rossa claimed the 1999 Magic Millions Classic. This year’s $2 million winner is from Vinery bred mare Blizzardly who scored at Listed level in the Keith Mackay Stakes at Randwick.
Testa Rossa follows General Nediym who captured the 1997 Magic Millions and then sired the Classic winners Regimental Gal (2003) and Military Rose (2010).
Vinery sold the top-priced Testa Rossa yearling during Book 1 of this year’s Magic Millions yearling sale. The colt from Electric Dreams sold for $320,000 to Hong Kong based George Moore Bloodstock.
