Matt Cumani chasing elusive win in Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic with Dun Wondering and Shadeelaa

While Cumani is in no hurry with Dun Wondering, a Dundeel colt out of Group 1 winner Allez Wonder, and Shadeelaa, a son of Shalaa from the family of Rubick and Redoute’s Choice, the $250,000 race over the back fence was too good an opportunity to pass.

“They’re both three-year-olds in the making really,” Cumani said.

“They have both been going pretty good at the jumpouts but they’ll be having their first start.

“Traditionally it has been quite a weak race but I feel like it’s going to get tougher now it’s a couple years into going the normal way.”

The 1000m race was run clockwise (NSW/Queensland way) from 2012-20 before it changed to the Victorian anticlockwise direction in 2021.

Cumani has trained the runner-up in the Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic twice with Anthemoessa (2017) and Cover Star (2021).

“We have targeted the race every year, particularly when it was reverse way because it used to catch a lot of trainers out,” Cumani said.

“You used to have to qualify running in reverse trials, I think now it’s a normal race essentially it will get tougher … it’s worth $250,000.”

Dun Wondering, a $150,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase, and Shadeelaa, $80,000 buy from the same auction, sped out to lead and win their 850m Ararat jumpouts last week.

Dun Wondering shaded an unraced stablemate over the concluding stages in the jumpout under his own steam with the best part of 30 lengths back to third.

Shadeelaa went two seconds faster (53.10sec v 55.40sec) in the preceding heat but was ridden out from the 200m.

“Dun Wondering I feel could do with a bit more time, to be honest,” Cumani said.

“I’m not in any rush with him … he’s very well bred and if he were to win at two it would put him on the path to being valuable.”

Cumani expects both colts to handle the rain-affected track.

“It’s going to be difficult, it’s quite good weather leading in and then on (Friday/Saturday) it breaks,” Cumani said.

“They have been trialling on pretty soft ground, I think they’ll handle it.”

In-form jockeys Declan Bates and Jordan Childs will ride Dun Wondering and Shadeelaa from barriers four and 11 respectively.

Arabian Summer, trained Tony and Calvin McEvoy, is the best credentialed juvenile in the race with Listed and Group 3 placings on the resume.

Macocha, prepared by Henry Dwyer, is the only winner in field after a Ballarat maiden success last month.

The 11-horse field includes five first starters.

The prizemoney earned by the winner on Saturday – $137,500 – would be enough to qualify for the $3m Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 13 at Gold Coast.

Originally published as Matt Cumani chasing elusive win in Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic with Dun Wondering and Shadeelaa