Unruly Mo, Unspun set to light up Millionaires series

THE BGLC-TOBA Millionaires series hits fever-pitch on Saturday with four of six runners supplemented by their owners through the $150,000 eligibility-fee route for a $2 million bonus and $1.128 million winner’s purse in the Mr Sensational Trophy for two-year-olds at seven furlongs.

It is jockeys’ agents’ day, but the race named for the men who trod the backstretch with condition books in hand has been overshadowed by the Millionaires Series, which offers the most lucrative owners’ incentive in local racing.

Patrick Elcock and owner-trainer Richard Azan have dug into their saddlebags for eligibility fees after posting non-eligible horses to victory in the series, United States-bred UNSPUN and HAZELNUT, respectively, forcing $1 million carryovers in separate divisions.

Elcock’s UNSPUN, trained by Donovan Hutchinson, turned the tables on local-bred MISS MONEYPENNY for a runaway win at six furlongs on November 2, sending a $1 million carryover to the Mr Sensational.

UNSPUN was supplemented on debut when beaten by LOVISA at four furlongs straight but ran ineligible for the $1 million bonus in two subsequent races, including his victory against MISS MONEYPENNY in Series 2.

Whereas Azan’s DANKA was supplemented on debut, safely tucking the $1 million bonus in her piggy bank, beating late-charging BEAUTIFUL SUNSET at five furlongs round on October 19 in Series 1, stablemate HAZELNUT was not made series-eligible for the BGLC-TOBA Jamboree Sprint on November 9, which she won impressively at six furlongs.

Aiming a double-barrelled shotgun at the Mr Sensational, Azan has supplemented both HAZELNUT and DANKA. Though BEAUTIFUL SUNSET appeared to have been catching DANKA with every stride, the Aveenu Malcainu-Baby P filly has worked extremely well, clocking 1:28.3 for seven furlongs last Sunday morning, suggesting that she could have improved immensely since.

DANKA, who appeared a bit green on debut, is not to be underestimated, especially with a tongue-tie fitted for her return at the longer trip.

HAZELNUT, who might have surprised Azan when beating BEAUTIFUL SUNSET in the BGLC-TOBA Jamboree Sprint, has won her trainer’s confidence for the Mr Sensational, returning with eligibility fee paid and first-time Lasix.

Joining Azan in the $3.1 million hunt are Elcock and owner-trainer Oral Hayden, who sends out a first-time runner, bred-in-the-purple UNRULY MO, a son of 2016 Wood Memorial winner UNCLE MO.

Though UNSPUN was awesome in victory at six furlongs, clocking a workmanlike 1:13.4, fellow American UNRULY MO has been setting the exercise track alight, clocking 1:12.4 on his first attempt at six furlongs on November 9, followed by 1:43.0 for a mile a week later, rounded off by 1:00.4 for five furlongs round last Sunday morning.

UNRULY MO’s blistering exercise gallops suggest that he should take home the bacon, but the BGLC-TOBA Millionaires Series not only has big bucks in store, but also major surprises awaiting favourites.