The owner got quite a good offer for her through Magic Millions but decided not to sell.
- Trainer Graeme McCulloch
The owner of promising filly Mountain Music will be hoping she keeps winning races after knocking back a purchase bid from Asia.
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Mountain Music won two races at Mowbray in April and will be out to build on her record when she tackles the Benchmark 58 Handicap at Spreyton on Sunday.
Trainer Graeme McCulloch expects her to run well at her first try over 1650m.
"She's had a few runs in now and is probably not far away from having a break but I thought I'd like to try her over a mile before we turn her out," McCulloch said.
"She's out of a mare that was bred to get over a bit of ground and, if she can, it gives us more options for next time in."
After consecutive wins at Mowbray, Mountain Music stepped up in class to contest the $50,000 3YO Autumn Classic where she again ran well when third to Jeremiah and Diesel Dan.
The Cardinal Virtue filly has since finished down the track at Mowbray last Sunday but McCulloch suggested that effort probably should be forgiven.
"She was on a five-day back-up when she ran in the 3YO Classic so I went a bit easier on her after that race," he said.
"She blew a bit more than I would have liked after her last run so I reckon that will have blown the cobwebs out of her."
McCulloch said he was hoping Mountain Music could win a few more races to vindicate Queensland owner Rob Essex's decision keep her.
"He got quite a good offer for her through Magic Millions but decided not to sell," the trainer said.
"I think they wanted her to race in Macau, or somewhere like that.
"I'd like to see her go through the classes and get up to something like a 78 rating."
McCulloch has trained horses for Essex for many years.
"He also owns a lot of greyhounds, which he trains himself, and has also got a few pacers so he loves his racing," the trainer said.
RYLEY SET FOR ANOTHER MAJOR
The $12,000 Golden Mile at Mowbray on Sunday night looks a benefit for star pacer Ryley Major.
The Rohan Hillier-trained gelding will be at unbackable odds after drawing barrier 4 in a small field.
Hillier will be looking for his second win in the race as a driver after scoring on the Juanita McKenzie-trained Mister Lennox in 2017.
Mister Lennox also won in 2016 and 2018 when driven by Ricky Duggan.
Last year's Golden Mile was run on a Monday afternoon after wind damage to the stables caused it to be postponed for three days.
