Minus Looks stretches unbeaten streak, Wolfe fields big overseas offer

Albany trainer Steve Wolfe has sent an ominous message to his rivals, declaring unbeaten three-year-old Minus Looks will only get better after his superb first-up performance in the Schweppes Plate (1200m) at Belmont on Saturday.

Returning from a spell, the highly-promising gelding settled on the rail just off the speed for jockey Shaun McGruddy before getting into the clear and powering past Caipirinha in the final 100m to score by a neck on the line. The son of Demerit has now stretched his unbeaten streak to two after notching an impressive debut win at Belmont Park back in June and will now head towards the Group 2 $500,000 WA Guineas (1600m) on November 19.

“He’s a very good horse and we knew that all along,” Wolfe said. “He is a Guineas horse, he ran the fastest 600m of the day off no trial and after getting into some bother on the corner.

“Once he learns the caper he will put horses like that away.

“He hasn’t even hit top gear yet and not many come to town and win two Saturday races at their first two starts.”

Wolfe and connections, however, will be forced to weigh up a significant offer for the star youngster they received yesterday.

“I got a text this morning with an offer to buy him,” Wolfe said.

“It was from Hong Kong and why you don’t want to sell him, the money is on the table, so we will wait and see.”

Minus Looks spent five weeks in the spelling paddock before returning to work but starting first-up without a trial was not a concern for Wolfe.

“We gave him five weeks off so we could get a crack at the Guineas,” he said.

“He will have two runs before the Guineas probably three weeks between runs.

“His next run will be a 1400m in three weeks and then we will look at it from there but he will need it a bit further than 1200m.”

Wolfe was also pleased with classy galloper Mr Utopia, who fought on bravely from barrier 14 with 59kg to finish 10th in Thursday’s listed $120,000 Hannans Handicap (1400m) in Kalgoorlie.

Ridden by star Eastern States jockey Brad Rawiller, Mr Utopia settled last in the field of 16 before fighting on strongly in the home straight to finish 4¾ lengths behind the winner Socially Unique.

The Wolfe stable had two winners during the Kalgoorlie race round with Kostyazilch winning last week and Mubaloo breaking his maiden status on Sunday.