Australia: Stablemates clash in Magic Millions Wyong 2-year-old Classic

The debut win of the 2-year-old Command Approved was widely expected at Canberra Racecourse in Australia on Nov. 26.

Sent off at 3-10, Command Approved led throughout a maiden race at five furlongs to prevail by three-quarters of a length over stablemate Speak Now.

Command Approved and Speak Now will now meet in Wednesday’s $142,000 Magic Millions Wyong 2-year-old Classic at Wyong Racecourse. The restricted race is run at 5 1/2 furlongs for sale progeny through the Magic Millions sales company.

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Command Approved was purchased as a yearling for approximately $124,000, while Speak Now cost approximately $200,000.

Command Approved and Speak Now will be part of a full field of 14 in the sixth race on a seven-race program that begins at 9:45 p.m. Eastern or 6:45 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Command Approved is the only winner among the entries, which includes seven first-time starters in the 14 horses in the main field. There is a colt and filly on the also-eligible list, both unraced.

Speak Now and Gendarmarie are the only runners to have finished second. Both will be longshots.

The first-time starters Hell I Am and Miss Hellfire, both by the first crop stallion Hellbent, were well supported as of Monday.

Hell I Am, trained by John O’Shea, was 7-2 in early betting behind Command Approved at 3-1. Hell I Am won a training race, or barrier trial, at Canterbury Park on Nov. 30. The presence of top jockey Hugh Bowman adds to Hell I Am’s appeal.

Hell I Am, bought for approximately $110,000, is out of Forest Circle, who was stakes-placed at Delta Downs and Fair Grounds in 2016.

Miss Hellfire, trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, has had a similar preparation, winning training races at Randwick at 4 1/4 furlongs on Oct. 8 and at 3 3/4 furlongs on Dec. 7. Kerrin McEvoy has the mount on Miss Hellfire, who was 5-1 on Monday.

Miss Hellfire, bought for approximately $43,000, is a half-sister to Caracaro, who was second to Tiz the Law in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga in 2020.