Bargain buy shows she’s all class

SHE was bought at an online auction for just $20,000 after whacking around the red dust of the Kalgoorlie racecourse.

Less than six months later, Mica Lil will lock horns with some of Australia’s premier sprinters when she steps out in today’s Group 1 Goodwood at Morphettville — her second $1 million race in a fortnight.

It has already been a true turf fairytale for Mica Lil’s proud group of South Australian owners and her trainer Mark Minervini — and they hope their good luck hasn’t dried up just yet.

The four-year-old mare has raced three times for her 25 new connections, winning at her SA debut at Morphettville last month before being placed twice, the latest a dazzling third in the $1 million Robert Sangster Stakes a fortnight ago.

She has already won $124,500 since joining Miner- vini’s boutique stable, with the promise of more to come.

“Yes, it’s been a bit of a dream,” Minervini said. “You can spend a million dollars on one and not win a maiden. “Everyone is having a ball. “Quite a few of the owners are first-timers but they’re all enjoying the ride.

“We haven’t really had any expectations since we got her.

“We’ll go there on Saturday with the same outlook. Whatever she does will be a bonus.”

Mica Lil is a $34 chance in Ladbrokes fixed-odds markets for the Goodwood, the feature race on the final day of the Adelaide Festival of Racing.