Miss aiming for double surprise
RACING: Toowoomba filly Miss Cavallo has already delivered her connections one pleasant surprise and trainer Michael Nolan couldn’t think of a better time to receive a second than at the Gold Coast tomorrow.
Miss Cavallo ($14) will step out for her third race start in tomorrow’s $500,000 QTIS Two-Year-Old Jewel (1200m), featuring on the Goldmarket program.
The Nicconi youngster pulled off one of the season’s biggest race upsets last time out with a strong-finishing win at $61 over $1.50 favourite Sugar Boom at Eagle Farm on February 27.
Miss Cavallo tackles a 12horse field tomorrow including Sugar Boom ($4.40) and laststart Doomben winner The Odyssey ($2.80 favourite).
Nolan is unsure if lightning can strike twice in the same place for Miss Cavallo but lining up in a $500,000 race restricted to QTIS-registered horses is a rare opportunity.
“Her first-up win at Doomben was really good,” Nolan said.
“It was unexpected. “We didn’t think we had any hope at all of beating Tony’s (Gollan) horse and we did.
“So obviously we qualified for the Jewel and here we are.
“It’s great to have a go at a $300,000-to-the winner race for QTIS only horses.
“We thought we might be a little bit out of our depth but we thought we’re going to have a crack at it anyway.”
Nolan is also represented in the $200,000 QTIS Three-Year-Old Jewel (1200m) by Spirit’s Pride who qualified for a run with his last-start QTIS race win at Clifford Park.
Seven-year-old Upstart Pride lines up for the Nolan stable in the $125,000 Listed Goldmarket (1200m) headed in early betting by Toowoomba gelding Mr Marbellouz.
■ TOOWOOMBA apprentice Baylee Nothdurft will be looking to end a landmark week on a successful note when he partners Mr Marbellouz for trainer Kevin Kemp in tomorrow’s Goldmarket.
Nothdurft gave West Australian punters a first-hand look at the form which has him in demand with Queensland trainers with his victory aboard $31 chance Fearhildi in Wednesday’s National Apprentices’ Challenge at Ascot.