Connections of Midnight Dynamite are eager to provide the horse with a chance at a $3 million prize following his impressive win in the Winter Challenge at Rosehill.
Following his victory in Saturday’s black-type feature and last month’s Listed Civic Stakes (1400m), the next target is the Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m) on August 7. A win there would secure a spot in the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day.
“We’re mindful he’s had a long ‘prep’ so we’ll see how he comes through, but the initial plan is Coffs,” trainer Bjorn Baker’s racing manager, Luke Hilton, said.
“We’d like to get him into the Big Dance if he can run a mile which, off that, it looks like he might.
“He has come to a new level this preparation. Even looking at him, I still don’t think we’ve gotten to the bottom of him. He’s going to be a better horse next preparation.
“He’s one of those Bjorn has been patient with. He’s got better and better each preparation. He’s reaping the benefits now and more to come hopefully.”
The four-year-old’s win in the Winter Challenge (1500m) marked his fourth victory in six starts this campaign. Midnight Dynamite, the $3.20 favourite, had the race well under control from a considerable distance out, living up to expectations from leading betting apps Australia.
He surged to the lead halfway up the straight, comfortably defeating his rivals by three lengths, with Just Folk ($14) finishing second and General Salute ($6) a further neck back in third, enjoying the brisk pace set by Whinchat.
Hilton confessed the stable had concerns that the horse might have been nearing the end of his preparation after his placing in the recent Winter Stakes (1400m), but his midweek workout dispelled these doubts.
“Bjorn was a little bit concerned that maybe he’d come to the end of it, but his work on Tuesday was fantastic. He’s just thriving, this horse,” Hilton said.
“It was hard to even get a little bit of a cheer up there because he had them shot to pieces very early. Tommy (Berry) rode him really well, put him to sleep, and he was able to quicken up really well.”
This win by Midnight Dynamite secured Baker consecutive victories in the Winter Challenge, having previously won it with Robusto twelve months prior.
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