Magic Millions Last Chance Saloon

Ben Dorries - Tuesday January 2

It's the last chance saloon for plenty of Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic hopefuls on Saturday but Tony McEvoy's classy filly Sunlight looms as a huge stumbling block.

McEvoy told Racenet he is "99 percent" sure his boom juvenile filly, currently on the second line of Magic Millions betting at $7, will run in the Follow Aquis Farm on Twitter 2YO Handicap (1100m) on the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Sunlight - Magic MillionsThat is despite the daughter of Zoustar already having earned enough prizemoney to qualify for the rich Magic Millions Classic a week later.

McEvoy's plan potentially spells bad news for other Magic Millions candidates who need to win Saturday's Gold Coast race, worth $40,200 to the winner, to get into the Magic Millions field.

The likes of Terminology, Boom Girl, Dram Of Delago, Paquirri, Sugar Sizzle and Mishani Phantom all need to win to get into the field while Commissioner and Sokudu (both dual nominated on the Gold Coast and at Warwick Farm) also need wins.

But McEvoy isn't concerned with any of that.

The champion trainer knew immediately after Sunlight's win on the Gold Coast on December 23 the Zoustar filly needed another run before the Magic Millions, and says he almost certainly won't change his mind now.

"I am flying to Brisbane today (Tuesday) and I will have a good look at her, but at this stage she is 99 percent certain to run on Saturday," McEvoy said.

"I know her well and to me, after her last run, she just didn't look fit to me.

"You have got to be fit to win the Magic Millions and I would have had to gallop her far too hard if she wasn't going to race again, and I didn't want to do that.

"I had already factored this into her program, and unless something changes dramatically she will be running on Saturday.

"There will be a few rivals on Saturday probably hoping she doesn't run, but I don't worry about that and I just do what I think is best for my horse."

There has been recent history with 2YO Magic Millions winners who have run the week before and backed up into the big race with last year's winner Houtzenand Le Chef (2015) both doing the quickfire double.

McEvoy has never won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic but believes Sunlight could be his best chance.

Sunlight has a full sister that will be offered by Widden Stud at the 2018 Magic Millions as Lot 330.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Coolmore Secure $500,000 Zoustar Colt
Some people may have wondered at Coolmore’s Tom Magnier paying $500,000 for a Zoustar colt early in the sale at Magic Millions on Wednesday, but when you hear what his breeder John North of Bowness Stud has to say about him you can see why this colt is seen as having serious potential.
Zoustyle Does it Again!
"The guys that own him were really disappointed when he drew wide but I said to them when he came over here and worked on Tuesday, 'this is really his favourite track’, he gets himself into such a good rhythm here and it's the only race all Summer that I had an opportunity to bring him back here to Doomben," Gollan said.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.