Material Man on Song for Melbourne

Posted on January 30, 2019 | Posted by Tim Walker

Multiple Group race winner Material Man has tuned up for his Melbourne campaign with an impressive trial at Lark Hill yesterday.

Material Man won by a length to three-year-old Chix Pic in a 955m trial in the quickest time for the morning.

The Vital Equine gelding will launch his Victorian autumn campaign in the first Group 1 of the calendar year, the C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield next Saturday.

From there, he is expected to progress to the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) and the lucrative $5 million All Star Mile on March 16 at Flemington.

He has also been nominated for the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 9.

Trainer Justin Warwick said he was thrilled with his star galloper’s effort and described it as his ‘best’ trial performance.

“We’ve changed a few things around with him, because he can get over a bit of ground if we get him fit,” he told TABradio.

“He doesn’t do a lot, just to keep the spring in his step.

“It seems to be working.

“I asked Lucy (Warwick) to let him stride past the post for a couple of hundred metres and he whizzed around the corner.”

Warwick confirmed his daughter Lucy would ride the seven-year-old for his east coast campaign.

Material Man sits in 11th position on the leader board for the All Star Mile and is in prime position to gain a start in the race.

The top 10 vote getters get a spot in the All Star Mile, while the final four spots in the field are filled by wildcard recipients.