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Newcastle trainer David Atkins expects his exciting youngster Jonker to be squarely in the Magic Millions Classic frame after he takes on a high class field at Wyong on Thursday.

Jonker, one of the standout winners for first season sire sensation Spirit Of Boom, will place his unbeaten record on the line in Thursday’s $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions (1100m).

Jonker was a brilliant nine and a quarter lengths winner of an 800m barrier trial at Newcastle before he made his debut with a dominant three lengths win in the Max Lees Classic (900m) on his home track on December 3.

Thursday’s race will be his acid test for the $2 million MM 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 13 as he will face formidable opposition from leading Sydney and interstate stables over the longer distance of 1100 metres.

Wyong rivals for Jonker are likely to include Breeders Plate placegetter Bondi, Ballarat MM Clockwise Classic winner La Pomme De Pinn and several highly rated first starters from the Chris Waller, Waterhouse/Bott and Clarry Conners stables.

Atkins said he doesn’t fear the opposition or step up in distance for Jonker.

“He has done everything right and he has probably improved a bit,” Atkins told ANZ Bloodstock.

“I think 1100 to 1200 metres will suit him. He is a quick horse, he can be there a bit easier and he has a very good turn of foot.

“He is also a very intelligent horse and you don’t have to teach him much.

“I’ve had a few good sprinters like Moss Rocket and Impaler so I can line him up that way…. this bloke just keeps improving.”

Newcastle jockey Aaron Bullock retains the ride on Jonker on Thursday. Blake Shinn will be riding Bondi for the Snowden stable and Tim Clark has the ride on the impressive first starter Terminology from the Waterhouse/Bott yard.

Terminology, by Star Witness, won a Rosehill trial over 900m on December 8 by more than 10 lengths and is regarded as the stable’s leading contender for the MM Classic.

The Wyong Magic Millions has become the key lead-up to the Gold Coast Classic since Not A Single Doubt won the inaugural race in 2003.

Subsequent winners have included Snitzel, Karuta Queen, Unencumbered and Capitalist. Snitzel finished second in the MM Classic at the Gold while the latter three all completed the double.

Waterhouse has won the Wyong Magic Millions three times with Pulsator, She’s Meaner and Bright Expectations.

Clarry Conners, who won the Wyong Magic Millions with Assail in 2012, has booked Corey Brown to ride his interesting first starter Skyray, a Smart Missile colt who has won two of his three trials.

The Lloyd Kennewell-trained La Pomme De Pin will attempt to become the second successive winner from interstate after the Lindsay park-trained Madeenaty beat Single Bullet and Dingaan in last year’s race.