Looking worth every penny of his $525,000 purchase price, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Written Tycoon gelding Hightail earned a trip to next weeks $2 million Magic Millions 2yo Classic at the Gold Coast with a dominant performance in Saturday's Events By ATC Hcp (1150m) on the Kensington track at Randwick.
Settled back in fourth place by Hugh Bowman as Underwood set a solid pace, Hightail took control at the 200 metres to defeat Godolphin's $500,000 Fastnet Rock filly Avon River by two and a quarter lengths with Domeland's $850,000 I Am Invincible colt Twentyfour Carat coming from near last for a fast-finishing third in an encouraging debut. (photo Steve Hart)
Winner of a 1000 metre maiden on a heavy track at Kembla Grange when making his career debut on December 15, Hightail was beaten into third place in at Randwick last week, which was won by the impressive Fastnet Rock filly Movie Role.
Bowman said the son of Written Tycoon faces a significant obstacle in backing up again at the Gold Coast.
"He did it in style today. He is a progressive horse, but he will have to do it three weeks in a row, but he couldn't be in better hands to do that.," Bowman said.
Co-trainer Paul Snowden said the gelding is up to the task. 
"That was a good effort. It was pretty much his gallop for next week, he has enough money now for the Magic Millions (2yo Classic) and that's where we will head," Snowden said.
"He just got nutted for second the other day and that was probably a $10,000 result so he needed to get a little bit more money and he did that today.
"He was a little bit fresh in the early stages. We haven't done much with him this week and we probably won't do much with him now to get him there as best we can. I think it's anyone's race.
"He's very quiet, he composes himself, can handle the heat and he's very laid back, which is a massive plus on a day like today."
Consigned by Woodside Park Stud to the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Hightail (pictured as a yearling ) was knocked down to China Horse Club/Newgate/Winstar for $520,000.
A brother to the VOBIS Gold Strike winner Je Suis Tycoon, Hightail is the fifth foal of the unraced Falvelon mare La Pais who is a half-sister to the high-class Ringa Ringa Rosie (Bradbury's Luck) the winner of the Listed BRC Hampden Stakes and runner-up in the Group 1 BRC TJ Smith Classic.
La Paris has a yearling colt by Econsul, one of just three foals by the former Caulfield Guineas winner in 2016. She foaled a filly by Written Tycoon's son Rich Enuff on November 12.
