Widden Stud’s late, great Sebring went 1-2 in Saturday’s $1 Million Ferrari Magic Millions Trophy but there was a dominant winner in the John Thompson-trained Primitivo.
With Glenn Boss having his first ride on the honest 5yo gelding, Primitivo came clear in the closing stages to defeat the Chris Waller-trained Black On Gold by one and three-quarter lengths with the Tony Gollan-trained A Man To Match a short-neck back in third.
"He had a lovely run it chopped and changed a little in the middle but we were always in a strong position he was in a great rhythm breathing beautifully very relaxed," Boss said.
"At the half mile once I got out off the fence I knew the race was his.
"The Candy Man is a hell of a horse but I knew he had 61 where we had 54 so we got going early and he was way too good."
Winning trainer John Thompson said Boss had made the difference.
"All credit to the horse he's incredibly clean winded and tends to go well on the fresh side, so the step up in distance wasn't a real worry."
"Eleven out of ten ride from Bossy. If you watch the replay you can just see him thinking the whole way it made a big difference."
"It's been a good week, I bought a couple including another Sebring like this guy."
A $105,000 purchase by DGR Thoroughbred Services out of the Turangga Farm draft at the 2016 MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Primitivo advances his record to 4 wins, 6 seconds and 3 thirds from 21 starts with earnings of $830,810.
A half-brother to four winners including the stakes-placed Quest For Peace (Hard Spun), Primitivo is out of the imported Coronado’s Quest mare Classic Quest (USA) a half-sister to the dam of the Group III winner and Group 1-placed Lemon Pretty (Scat Daddy).
Classic Quest (USA) has a yearling colt by Your Song in the Turangga Farm draft headed to the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.