Paquirri to run at Ballarat ahead of MM

Trainer Gary Moore and jockey Michael Walker will reunite with Paquirri at Ballarat.

Sydney trainer Gary Moore will travel to Victoria to try to qualify Paquirri for the $2 million Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast,

Moore has opted to run the colt in Saturday’s Magic Millions 2YO Clockwise Classic (1000m), a race designed to give Victorian horses experience in the right-handed direction before they head north for January’s rich race.

A $240,000 yearling at the Perth Magic Millions sale, Paquirri has impressed Moore with his work and his barrier trials.

“He’s the quickest I’ve got at the present moment. I’ve always thought highly of him,” Moore said.

Paquirri has had two trials, winning his second at Warwick Farm on November 6.

“He’s out of a fast mare (Miss Solis) which he’s showing in his work and I think he’ll go in with a very good chance,” Moore said.

Michael Walker is booked to ride Paquirri at Ballarat where he will try to maintain a 100 per cent strike rate with Moore.

Walker rode Classic Uniform to win the Hill Stakes in Sydney and All Too Huiying in the Seppelt Wines Stakes during the Melbourne Cup carnival.

The jockey was stood down at Sandown on Saturday after riding Fanatic to win the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m).

He was suffering from pneumonia but said he hoped to be cleared to ride on Wednesday.

Moore said about 75 per cent of his Rosehill stable were two-year-olds because several older horses had been moved to the Gold Coast while Classic Uniform and Group One winner Takedown were spelling.

He would have a clearer idea next week regarding the time frame for other two-year-olds to start racing.

“There’s a few that need time. At this stage Paquirri is the one,” Moore said.

“He’s the right horse for the race. I’m confident because I watched the trials for two-year-olds in Ballarat and I think he’ll be very hard to beat.

“If we can win that we’ll be in the Magic Millions two-year-old race which is quite important at this stage.”