Sunlight’s cash dash
TRAINER Tony McEvoy has confirmed that smart filly Sunlight will head to the Gold Coast in a bid to ensure she makes it into the field for the $2 million Magic Millions Classic.
Saturday’s 900m race for two-year-olds attracted 25 nominations as the jostling for Magic Millions berths intensifies.
Sunlight was scratched from the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes at Doomben on Saturday after she drew the outside barrier in the field of 18.
The Calaway Gal was won by the Tony Gollan-trained Outback Barbie, who is a $26 chance in the Magic Millions Classic on January 13 with her stablemate, Phelan Ready Stakes winner Ef Troop, the $4.60 favourite.
Sunlight, a filly by first season sire Zoustar out of dual Group 3 winner Solar Charged, has $11,800 in the bank after running third at her only start in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington on October 7.
She scored a narrow win over Outback Barbie in a 900m trial at the Gold Coast on December 7. In previous years, horses have needed at least $30,000 to qualify for the Classic.
“We need prize money and this looks a good race to get it. The 900 metres around the Gold Coast should suit her really well,” McEvoy said.
“It would have been a waste of time running her at Doomben and surely she can’t draw the outside barrier again.”
McEvoy had intended to give Sunlight another run after the Calaway Gal but that is now up in the air.
“I will just have to wait until after the Gold Coast to see where she is at,” McEvoy said.
McEvoy also has Crockett headed to the Magic Millions Classic with the colt virtually guaranteeing his place with his second, albeit beaten 5¼ lengths, behind Ef Troop in the Phelan Ready.
The trainer said Crockett would run in the B J McLachlan Stakes on December 30 at Doomben.