Bravery shines through in Sunlight’s triumph
THE courage of jockey Luke Currie in the early stages of an interference-marred Magic Millions Classic on Saturday has been praised as the difference between Sunlight winning and losing.
Trainer Tony McEvoy was amazed Sunlight finished with only “one or two nicks”.
The race was marred in the early stages when Ef Troop cut across the field from an outside barrier, flattening Jonker and interfering with Sunlight.
Ef Troop’s jockey Matt McGillivray was suspended for a month.
“Luke could see what was going to happen but, full credit to him, he got up there and held his spot,” McEvoy said.
“If he didn’t do that, she wouldn’t have won.”
McEvoy is planning on giving Sunlight a short break before aiming for the Golden Slipper Stakes on March 24.
“I’ve got 10 weeks to get her there,” he said.
“I’ll train her from Sydney but before that she’ll have a short break on a farm.”
Sunlight firmed from $11 to $8 equal favourite with Performer after her win.
She is also $6 favourite for the Blue Diamond Stakes with TAB fixed odds.
McEvoy said it was likely Sunlight would have one run in Sydney before the Golden Slipper.
Two years ago, Capitalist completed the Magic MillionsGolden Slipper double.
McEvoy said the “expensive” move of taking Sunlight to the Gold Coast seven weeks ago paid dividends.
“I looked at last year with my two horses which I took up close to the race, which didn’t work,” he said.
“It’s been a big advantage for Sunlight having two starts at the track and being able to back up a week after her last win there,” he said.
McEvoy said Sunlight should be undefeated because at her first start, when she finished third in the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes, Currie made a mistake when he restrained her instead of making full use of her speed.
He added he had shopped well at the Magic Millions Yearling Sales during last week, paying $600,000 for Sunlight’s sister a year after he paid $300,000 for her.
“I think the sister would now go for another $200,000 to $300,000,” he said.