Racing: Mic Mac grabs Memsie

Danny Nikolic has declared Mic Mac a star in the making after guiding him to an all-the-way victory at his first attempt at weight-for-age in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield yesterday.

Nikolic, who completed a winning treble aboard the Greg Eurell-trained gelding in the Group Two 1400m feature, said he wanted to ride him throughout the spring.

He was riding Mic Mac for the first time in a race, replacing the suspended Damien Oliver who had ridden him twice for as many wins.

"He's a real star in the making," Nikolic said. "He's a good horse and has got a great temperament. He's probably got a bit more to do next time in when he fills out.

"If they can get another 50kg on him it is going to make him even harder to beat, but that's just him, it's his build."

The talented 4-year-old, who has been beaten only once in eight starts, was sent out $3.10 favourite and showed plenty of fight to kick back after being tackled at the top of the straight.

He went on to score by 1 lengths from Whobegotyou ($4) with Zarita ($31) a half-head away third.

There were two excellent runs from a Melbourne Cup point of view with last year's winner Viewed finishing an eye-catching fourth and 2007 Cup winner Efficient a slashing fifth.

Nikolic said 1600m would not be a problem for Mic Mac who will have his next start in the Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 12.

The top jockey said he would have to ride him at "the mile" before he could assess whether he would get the 2040m of the $3 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 24.

Eurell was "very relieved" after Mic Mac's victory.

"It was an interesting race, I don't think it was run exactly how we would have liked it," he said. "It was a little tense moment when he straightened up and the other horse [Von Costa De Hero] was challenging him but he dug deep and found under pressure, as I think all good weight-for-age horses do.

"He'll go to the Dato up to the 1600m which I'm really looking forward to. I think it'll be run a little bit different over a mile and we'll see what he can do from there."

Eurell said the Dato Tan Chin Nam performance would determine if he goes to the Cox Plate or sticks to shorter races.

"It [the Cox Plate] is a big step but he's a quality galloper and quality horses can do things they probably aren't supposed to do sometimes so we'll just take it step by step."

Starspangledbanner showed his toughness when he overcame an outside barrier and top weight to complete a hat-trick of wins in the Group Three HDF McNeil Stakes.

However trainer Leon Corstens still had reservations the handsome chestnut colt would get the 1600m of the Group One $1 million Caulfield Guineas on October 10.

By former outstanding sprinter Choisir, Starspangledbanner covered plenty of ground and did it tough under 58kg to score by three-quarters of a length from Tollesprit with Eclair Fastpass a half-length away third.

Corstens said Starspangledbanner had earned a crack at the Group Three Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) on September 29.

- AAP