Leeton trainer-driver Phil Maguire will line up two MIA Breeders Plate chances on Saturday as he looks to take out his hometown feature for the third time.
Maguire was part of the two-year-old record win of Rich Virgin’s two years ago and also drove Classic News to victory in 2000.
However he is yet to win with a horse he’s trained.
It’s something he would love to achieve but isn’t sure this year’s hopefuls, Our Chance Todream or The Loustar, will be the one to do it.
“It would nice to train one ours and own them,” Maguire said.
“You have to be in them to win them.”
Our Chance Todream has won two trials in the past two weeks at Leeton, including one on Tuesday night.
He’s well bred and goes alright but at this stage is probably not quite up to the better ones. He is no super star but does everything right.
- Leeton trainer-driver Phil Maguire on his MIA Breeders Plate entrant Our Chance Todream
The fastest has been in 2:01.2 and despite drawing barrier three Maguire isn’t too confident of his chances.
“He’s well bred and goes alright but at this stage is probably not quite up to the better ones,” Maguire said.
“He is no super star but does everything right.”
Our Chance Todream has drawn to tackle Redbank Blaze in the first of the heats.
Maguire thought the Paul Kahlefeldt-trained runner was the standout in the field.
“He’s a nice horse and if we had of drawn the weakest heat we might have qualified,” he said.
The son of If I Can Dream is owned by Maguire’s wife Kerry and the was purchased following the Bathurst yearling sales.
The gelding is well-bred, from New Zealand-bred mare Hanover Chance, who won more than $400,000 racing in the United States.
He is only one of two Australian horses to be bred by the stallion, a $2 million earner who is a full-brother to Western Terror.
Originally withdrawn from the sales, the Maguires liked his pedigree so much they decided to purchase him off Scott Robertson after the sale.
Maguire believes Our Time Todream is further advanced than his stablemate.
The Loustar was also purchased at Bathurst by Reece Maguire and his apprentice jockey girlfriend Kristen Smart.
“He’s just a little bit behind the other fella,” Maguire said.
“He’s been about a month behind since we’ve had him.”
The son of Passmaster Hanover has also drawn three in his heat and is coming off a third in his most recent trial at Leeton.
