Unit Five has rapidly emerged as a serious prospect on the Australian two-year-old racing scene after delivering a polished and authoritative debut performance at Caulfield Heath, securing his place in the spotlight ahead of the prestigious Magic Millions carnival on the Gold Coast. The promising colt, trained by Ciaron Maher, showcased both class and composure when taking out the Magic Millions VIC 2YO Classic (1100m), confirming early expectations and setting himself up for a shot at one of the most lucrative juvenile races in the country.
Named in honour of David Merricks, the long-serving and much-respected former stud manager at Widden Stud who passed away last year after more than three decades of service, Unit Five carries both sentimental and sporting significance. His victory on Saturday was not only a triumph for connections but also a meaningful nod to Merricks’ legacy within the Australian breeding industry.
Starting as the $2.70 favourite and partnered by emerging jockey Thomas Stockdale, Unit Five never gave supporters a moment of anxiety. He travelled comfortably throughout the race before asserting his dominance, pulling clear to score by an impressive 2-¼ lengths over outsider Ko Phangan ($41), with Invincible Son ($6) finishing a further 1-¼ lengths back in third. The margin, ease, and manner of the win all pointed to a colt with considerable upside.
The Caulfield success automatically qualifies Unit Five for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m), scheduled to be run at the Gold Coast on January 17. That race is renowned not only for its prize money but also for its ability to launch the careers of future stars, and Maher now finds himself with another genuine contender to add to an already strong juvenile team.
Maher was understandably delighted with the performance and spoke glowingly about the colt’s development and temperament, particularly given the relatively short timeframe between his final hit-out and race day.
“I’m just rapt in the horse’s progression,” Maher said.
“We normally wouldn’t trial them that close, but he seems to find things easy.
“I can’t thank my team enough. I think that’s our fourth pre-Christmas two-year-old winner for the year, so the system is working very well and I’m very thankful for them as at this time of year, the two-year-olds is what it’s all about.”
That confidence stemmed in part from Unit Five’s impressive jump-out at Cranbourne earlier in the week, where he won an 800-metre hit-out with authority. While many trainers prefer to space such efforts further apart, Maher felt comfortable pushing on, trusting the colt’s natural ability and constitution.
Importantly, Maher sees no reason why Unit Five cannot travel north and remain competitive against the best juveniles in the country. Although the stable already has Tornado Valley pencilled in for the Magic Millions — a horse Maher described as the likely number one seed at this stage — he was quick to emphasise that Unit Five has more than earned his opportunity.
“This bloke, timing wise, we thought we could then send him to Sydney and then he would be on the right leg for the Millions, but we’ll see how he comes through,” Maher said.
“He’s just so professional and I loved the way he presented and behaved himself in the yard.
“He was very calm behind the gates. He bounced and made Tom’s job pretty easy.
“Tom had a good winner for us the other day and he’s starting to make a habit of it, so it’s good to be associated with him.”
That professionalism is often the defining factor when young horses step up from debut success to elite-level competition. Unit Five’s calm demeanour, both pre-race and once loaded into the gates, marked him as a colt well ahead of his age mentally — a trait that can prove invaluable in the high-pressure environment of a Magic Millions race day.
For Stockdale, the ride represented another milestone in what has been a rapidly improving association with the Maher stable. Having partnered Unit Five in his Cranbourne jump-out, the jockey felt the colt had more to offer than he had shown in trackwork and was pleased to see that potential translated so clearly on race day.
“I didn’t let him off the chain too much at Cranbourne bearing in mind this was a possibility,” Stockdale said.
“It was great to see him extend off the bridle, which I hadn’t seen before, and he will improve.
“He’s still very raw, still very ‘looky’, but he has the natural talent to progress into a nice horse.”
Those comments underline an exciting reality for connections: Unit Five is still learning. Despite his convincing victory, there remains plenty of scope for improvement as he gains experience, strengthens physically, and becomes more race-savvy. His rawness, rather than being a concern, is viewed as a positive indicator of how much further he may progress over the coming months.
Bred by Supido, Unit Five now joins a growing list of juveniles making an early impression this season, and his success adds further momentum to Maher’s already formidable two-year-old program. With the Magic Millions carnival fast approaching, decisions will soon need to be made regarding travel, lead-up runs, and stable priorities. However, if Saturday’s performance is any guide, Unit Five has firmly booked his ticket into those discussions.
As the countdown to the Gold Coast begins, racing fans and industry observers alike will be watching closely to see how the colt pulls up from his debut and what path Maher ultimately chooses. One thing is already clear: Unit Five has arrived, and his Caulfield Heath victory suggests his story is only just beginning.
