‘Our’ shining light
McEvoy predicts flying filly will be nation’s best juvenile
TRAINER Tony McEvoy says he’s got all bases covered with Golden Slipper favourite Sunlight and best outsider Oohood.
Sunlight, a brilliant winner of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast in January, is $4.20 favourite with Ladbrokes and McEvoy predicts the filly will emerge from the $3.5 million race as Australia’s top juvenile.
The Melbourne filly will be having her seventh start and her only loss came on debut over 1000m at Flemington in October.
She won three races, including the Millions, and a trial at the Coast over summer and has been adopted by punters on the Glitter Strip.
“Sunlight is going into the race as the best two-year-old
and she’ll still be after the race – she’s been exceptional for her age,” McEvoy said.
“She’s big and strong. She’s more like a three-yearold than a two-year-old.
“She’s got a great temperament and attitude as well as being a great boned horse.
“That’s why she’s been able to meet all of her challenges so far.
“She’s very fit. She was 507 kilograms when she won the Magic Millions and she’ll go into this 503 kilograms.”
Only three horses have won the Millions-Slipper
double since the Gold Coast race was introduced in 1987 because it is so hard to get a horse to peak twice in their two-year-old season.
To achieve the double is an exceptional training feat.
Previous winners Dance Hero, Phelan Ready and Capitalist all had one run between their two big race successes. Sunlight has won her two starts since the Millions.
McEvoy said with the exception of Estijaab, the speed horses in the Golden Slipper were all drawn alongside each other which could make it tactically interesting.
“I would think the favourites drawn in will control the race, making it hard for horses off the speed,” he said.
McEvoy though said if the Slipper did develop into a high-pressure race, the form of Oohood ($21) stacked up.
“Written By in the Blue Diamond, he had a leisurely trip in the lead,” McEvoy said.
“I’m not knocking him but Oohood’s run was super to finish third as she jumped out OK, was pushed off the track, she was eight and nine wide and under pressure but she still got home.”