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Newcastle trainer Paul Perry is confident he has the youngster to give Newcastle a third Magic Millions two-year-old winner at the Gold Coast in January.
Perry, despite his marvellous record in Group One races in Australia and abroad, has never had a starter in the Magic Millions Classic for two-year-olds.
However the Golden Slipper and Royal Ascot-winning trainer is certain that is about to change with his brilliant colt Hidden Warrior ready to stamp himself as one of the leading contenders for the $2 million race at the Gold Coast on January 14.
Perry, who won a Golden Slipper with Stratum and put Australian sprinters on the map in the UK when he stunned English racing with Choisir at Royal Ascot in 2003, will be a disappointed man if Hidden Warrior doesn't run up to his expectations at Canterbury tonight.
Hidden Warrior makes his much anticipated return to racing in tonight's Australian Turf Club 2YO Maiden (1200m), his second career start after his promising debut second to Pierro in the Breeders Plate at Randwick in October.
The progress the Hidden Dragon colt has made since the Breeders Plate was evident when he easily won a barrier trial at Broadmeadow last week, going to the line hard held to win by a length.
Perry's aim is to now ensure he has enough prizemoney to secure a start in the Magic Millions Classic, a place he can seal when he runs in the $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions on December 22.
Perry was going to gamble on the Wyong race as the only lead-up to the Gold Coast but the pressure to qualify for a Magic Millions berth forced him to add tonight's race to Hidden Warrior's program.
'It is going to be very tough just to get a run in the Magic Millions. It seems every good youngster produced so far this season is a Magic Millions graduate," Perry said.
'Hidden Warrior got through the trial without a problem. He is just a natural two-year-old and that is in his favour going forward to a Magic Millions."
Perry will join the late Max Lees (Zephyrz) and David Throsby (Lovely Jubly) as Newcastle trainers to win the Gold Coast Magic Millions if Hidden Warrior goes all the way.
Perry said he could have taken Stratum to the Magic Millions in 2005 but decided to focus on his Golden Slipper preparation.
'Early on I never concentrated on the race because of the sale system as most of the good ones went for too much money,' Perry said.
'I did have Stratum but he was going so well I kept him back for the Golden Slipper.'
Perry paid $105,000 for Hidden Warrior at the Gold Coast sale last January, chasing down the colt in the sale ring as he had trained his half brother to win 12 races.
'He seemed a very nice type and because I knew Sea Spur had ability I decided to buy him," Perry said.
Hidden Warrior is also a half brother to Defiant Dame, winner of last season's Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick.