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He’s a marked man on a marked horse but jockey Nick Heywood is adamant exciting sprinter Mogo Magic can stamp himself a major Kosciuszko contender when he steps out of country grade for the first time at Randwick on Saturday.
Mogo Magic is on the $6 line alongside Ramornie runner-up Far Too Easy in TAB's all-in market on the $2 million The Kosciuszko and you'd think he would need to make it five from five to retain his standing.
Nick Heywood is well aware that he has a target on his back and is certain the gelding has what it takes to adapt to whatever unfolds in the Godolphin Lifetime Care Handicap (1100m).
"All you can do is win and he's been winning and winning well,'' Heywood said.
"It looks a nice race for him to go to the next grade. We might even be able to sit outside the leader if something wants to take it up.
"He doesn't have to lead, if they go too quick I'm happy to let them go.
"I'm not just going to hand up to them, I'll come out with the intention to lead then go with the flow."
The three-year-old made it four straight with a strong all the way Highway win over 1100m at Rosehill back on July 1 where he burned the candle early before holding a comfortable 1-1/4 length margin.
He ran his first 300m in a slick 18.72 (Punter's Intelligence) and was still able to break 34 seconds for his last 600m and that told Heywood 1200m, when he gets to that trip, shouldn't be a worry.
"You only have to look at the sectionals of that race, they ran one of their fastest splits early in the race and he was still able to kick off it,'' Heywood said.
"He felt like he was just idling to the post late. He's still working the caper out himself and he has a lot more to give."
Tickets for The Kosciuszko are on sale to NSW residents for $5 via TAB outlets or the TAB app, pubs and clubs and race meetings with the 14 winning ticket holders drawn on September 8 so any win until then can only endear a horse to the prospective slot winners.
Mogo Magic, $2.40 with TAB on Thursday, carries 60kg but Heywood's personal riding weight will be around 57.5kg so he won't be carrying a lot of dead weight.
Heywood said he galloped the horse just over a week ago and he felt strong and was happy to leave it to trainer Scott Collings to put the finishing touches on for Saturday.
"He's showed me that he hasn't missed a beat since last time I rode him,'' he said.
"If Scott can keep him on the fresh side, without being too fresh, a big weight won't worry him."
Collings also produces Ten Bells, a $26 chance in The Kosciuszko, in the Gow-Gates Insurance Brokers Handicap (1300m).
The mare hit the line late when beaten three lengths in an 1100m dash by Miss Jay Fox first-up at Randwick three weeks ago, with Jason Collett in the saddle, and Heywood is expecting improvement up in distance.
"I think she's a bit older now and it probably takes her a run or two to wind back into it,'' he said.
"I thought her first run was a pass mark. She's drawn a nice gate to be in a good position in the middle stages, hopefully she can get some daylight at the top of the straight."
It's a feast or a famine for Ten Bells with a record of six wins and no other placings from 13 starts.
