All-Star Mile hopeful unplaced at Sandown

Jye McNeil rorde Unanimous to victory in the Ladbrokes Back Yourself Handicap at Sandown.

All-Star Mile contender Heart Of Puissance has had his colours lowered in a midweek race at Sandown but will press ahead to the $5 million race at his next start.

Heart Of Puissance was last week granted a spot in the All-Star Mile at Caulfield as one of the top 10 horses voted into the race on March 14.

While finishing in fourth position in Wednesday’s Ladbrokes Odds Boost Handicap (1500m), co-trainer Ciaron Maher was happy with the way the three-year-old finished off the race.

Heart Of Puissance was a little slow to begin from his inside draw and buried back in the field before jockey John Allen was able to get to the outside where the three-year-old worked home strongly.

“He’ll improve a lot off that as it was a bit leaderish today,” Maher said.

“Once he got out it took him a little bit of time to wind up, but he’ll be much better suited out to the mile and will come on a lot for that.

“All things being well we’ll see him second-up in the All-Star Mile.”

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While the day might not have ended the way Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, had hoped, he did have an earlier winner with Unanimous in the Ladbrokes Back Yourself Handicap.

Having his first start, Unanimous ran out a two-length winner under Jye McNeil in a victory that provided the perfect birthday present for David Azzopardi and syndicator Dream Thoroughbreds.

Unanimous was a $34,000 yearling purchase at the Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast last year, with Azzopardi saying the colt was a cheap buy.

“We actually stole this horse. He was the sixth last lot at the Magic Millions last year,” Azzopardi said.

“Newgate Farm had him and we had a big price on him but there was no one else around and I was the only one who bid.

“When we first bought him we thought he’d be an early two-year-old, he’s physically quite strong but mentally he’s not.

“It looks like he’s taken benefit from that little bit of time and he ran away from them today and should have a bit of a future.”