Greyworm will live to fight another day after missing the chance of a profitable pay-day in the $150,000 VOBIS Gold Reef (1600m).

The Master Of Design 3yo had won two of his first three starts at Mornington and Sandown and trainer Mick Kent was looking forward to his biggest test at Caulfield on Saturday. “After working on Tuesday, he produced some mucus,” Kent revealed. “I scoped him again on Wednesday morning but it hadn’t improved so we had to scratch.”

Greyworm was posted at $6.50 in early markets behind $5 favourite Street Sheik in the VOBIS Gold Reef. “He’s a powerful little horse,” Kent declared after the last-start victory in the Le Pine Funerals Hcp (1400m) on the Lakeside circuit. “He has a lovely action and it was a good effort leading into a headwind.”

His dam Miracle Magic (Dash For Cash) was a Canterbury winner for the late Bede Murray and she foaled four colts by Master Of Design in her first four years at stud. First-up was Ingels and he won on debut at Bairnsdale in April 2017 before transferring to Macau.

Greyworm is her second foal and he has impressed leading apprentice Ethan Brown who was aboard in both front-running victories. “He’s a cool horse and will go on to bigger and better things. He lengthens and gets into a rhythm. The chasers were under pressure from the 800m at Sandown.”

Wingrove Park’s Joe & Daria Vella will continue to race Greyworm in partnership after a sale to Asian interests fell through earlier this season. He is one of 29 individual winners of 55 races by Master Of Design this season and they have earned prizemoney over $1.67 million.

Greta West Stud stands Master Of Design for a $4,400 (inc GST) service fee.

GREYWORM