A colt with a pedigree and a future, Cao Cao will head to the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast on January 14 with a favourites chance following a hugely impressive win in Saturday's Whiteman Property Plate (1000m) at Moonee Valley.
The son of Fastnet Rock debuted with a luckless second in the Group III Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington on November 5.
The Mick Price-trained colt was again not the best to begin but he quickly gathered pace for Mark Zahra settling in fifth as Blackwolf Run set a solid speed.
Angled between runners Cao Cao let down impressively to race away for a two and three-quarter length win from Kedleston (Easy Choice) with Blackwolf Run (All Too Hard) a short half-head away third. (photo Grant Courtney)
"He's a tough colt and he's just got to be kept up for the Magic Millions now," Price said.
"His prizemoney should be enough to probably get a run but the trick will be to nurse him in. Hopefully, he has enough money and we don't have to run him again.
"We've got to get him up there, it's a tough ask and I think we've made a bit of use of him to get him to here.
"He's a tough colt with a personality, he needs a bit of discipline every now and then but we just have to work out our plan to get him to the Gold Coast."
Cao Cao carries the colours of Sun Bloodstock who purchased the Fastnet Rock colt for $350,000 out of the Baramul Stud consignment at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sale.
Bred by Gerry Harvey, he is the third foal of the 4-time winning Encosta de Lago mare Serenada a half-sister to Group II winner and near millionaire First Command (Commands ) and the Hong Kong Group II winner One World (Danehill Dancer) who placed in the Group
Seranada's dam River Serenade (Hurricane Sky) is a winning sister to the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate winner River Dove, herself the dam of Vinery Stud's popular first season stallion Headwater.
Serenada has a yearling colt by Fastnet Rock and was covered last spring by Exceed And Excel.
