Itchintogo slams rivals in Gold Nugget romp
Speedy Brisbane-based gelding Itchintogo (Sun City) suggested he could have the measure of some more vaunted southern raiders in next weekend’s Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) with a dominant victory in Saturday’s main males’ lead-up race.
From the corner of master trainer Tony Gollan and jockey Ryan Maloney – who both won the Classic for the first time in 2023 with Skirt The Law (Better Than Ready) – Itchintogo jumped to the front in the Gold Nugget (1100m) and dashed clear in the straight to win by 4.57 lengths.
He won like a $1.60 favourite should in a six-runner field of locals, but the authority of the performance showed the gelding would be a definite chance in the Classic one week on.
Bookmakers cut his price for the $3 million event to $9 (from $15). He remains on the fourth line of betting in a market headed by Bjorn Baker’s colt Warwoven (Sword Of State) at $2 and another Sydney-based runner in Shiki, the filly who firmed to $6 after also winning at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Another Brisbane-based runner, Chris and Corey Munce’s two-from-two colt Zip Lock (Hellbent) is at $7.
Itchintogo ran second to Zip Lock at the pair’s debut at Doomben in November before winning the Phelan Ready Stakes (Listed, 1110m) at the same track, just over a month before Saturday’s second success.
He’s the sole stakes winner from 40 runners – and so far the only third-crop runner – for relatively obscure sire Sun City (Zoustar), who stands at Queensland’s Telemon Stud for $8,800.
And after Saturday’s win, Gollan appeared warm on his two-year-old’s chances of further promoting his sire in next Saturday’s main event, endorsing the week-long back-up as the right preparation, even though Skirt The Law had more than a month between runs ahead of her 2YO Classic triumph.
“I wanted to have him in this after he won the other day. Bringing him here got that freshness off him, then give him an easy week and give ourselves a chance to give it a shake next week,” Gollan said.
“The seven-day back-up will do this horse the world of good. The stats on doing that have been phenomenal. I’m really looking forward to the next seven days.”
Gollan said he was delighted to see Itchintogo show the benefit of experience when on his best behaviour on Saturday.
“It’s always a little bit nerve wracking with these young ones when they’re this short,” he said.
“He did a bit wrong last time and he did a bit wrong in the jump-out in between. But we were really happy with him in the last ten days.
“He paraded sensational and obviously he had a class edge on these. I love the way he executed the race today and that is the best he’s been for us.
“He’s changed and grown through the prep, which is unusual for a two-year-old in work. His muscle tone is great, his health is great.
“He had to show that he could be competitive and he’s done that today. He’s a quick horse and he can get going. If he can do that next week, he’ll put himself in a really good spot.”
Maloney concurred it was a reassuringly calm Itchintogo who presented for his Classic lead-up.
“I just loved the way he relaxed today. Even when Wootton You Know came up outside, he didn’t want to overdo it, which he did the other day,” the winning rider said.
“That holds him in good stead going into next week. He’s got a bit of cheek and he’s got the temperament to hold himself into next week.
“He relaxed a lot better than he did with me the other day. In his trial he was quite fresh.”
Toby Edmonds’ Baciami (Castelvecchio) took second at $5, ahead of the Marcus Wilson-trained Written Acclaim (Aclaim) at $41.
Bred by Queensland’s Ben Lucas, Itchintogo was bought for $60,000 at Magic Millions’ Gold Coast March Yearling Sale by Victoria’s Glenhuntly Lodge, who left him in the Sunshine State with Gollan.
He’s the sixth, last and best foal out of Itchintowin (Nothing To Lose), who died last month, aged 16.
That mare was a city winner of five races from the same family as New Zealand stakes winners Sir Alberton (Red Tempo), Alberton Star (Stylish Century) and Straussbridge (Straussbrook) and, more recent stakes–winning Kiwi sisters Provence (Savabeel) and Damask Rose.
Sun City, who won the 2018 running of the BJ McLachlan Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Doomben in a career cut short by injury to six starts, has 19 winners from 40 runners, and covered 42 mares in 2024, after serving 57 in 2023.