Odds logic is hazy

CO-TRAINER Ben Hayes says Lindsay Park’s sole representative in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on Saturday – Nomothaj – was “flying under the radar” going into the race.

Hayes said he received a confidence booster when he watched Tony McEvoy’s filly Sunlight jog in at the Gold Coast last Saturday.

Sunlight won by 4½ lengths at the weekend and is the $4.40 second favourite for the race.

Hayes pointed out that Nomothaj at her only start won the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington, a race which Sunlight finished third, and their filly is a $26 chance with UBET.

“She beat Sunlight comfortably who has won her past two starts by a cumulative nine lengths. You can’t get any better form than that,” Hayes said.

Hayes said they had deliberately set Nomothaj to win the Magic Millions first-up.

“She won her only start fresh so we decided that would be the best way to approach the race.”

His father David Hayes has trained five seconds in the race – Mahaasin (1990), Trustful (1991), St Covet (1994), Churchill Downs (2006) and Husson Lightning (2007).

Last year, they trained Madeenaty who finished third behind Houtzen. She also won the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes but had another two starts before that run.

Stephen Baster, who rode Nomothaj to win the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes in November, will ride her on Saturday and said he was excited by her recent trial win in Sydney with blinkers on.

Baster described Nomothaj as being professional as an early two-year-old but believes the blinkers have taken her to another level.

“The other day in her trial in Sydney with blinkers on she looked sensational,” Baster said. “She travelled nicely and cantered up to them. She looked like she had improved.”