Punters warm to brilliant Sunlight
IT’S a case of Sunlight first, daylight second as punters sort through the contenders for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic next month.
Punters have swamped UBET to back the Tony McEvoytrained Sunlight since her easy win at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
The Melbourne filly has firmed from $16 on Friday into $7 last night to sit on the second line of betting for the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at Aquis Park on January 13.
Joint $4 favourites Ef Troop and Jonker have remained unchanged.
Sunlight has shortened from $31 in UBET’s original Millions market but needed to win at the Coast on Saturday to get sufficient prizemoney to qualify for the big race.
Punters need not have worried. Sunlight won by almost five lengths in the second of two 900m two-year-old races.
She ran slightly faster time than the winner of the first division, Katy’s Daughter, but her final 600m sectional was an outstanding 32.20 seconds.
McEvoy has had to play a patient game with Sunlight who he paid $300,000 for at the Magic Millions Yearling Sales this year.
“She’s got lots to come, I believe,” McEvoy told RSN 927’s Correct Weight program.
“I’ve got three weeks and I think I’m going to need another race to help me achieve her peak fitness for the grand final.
“It’s a high-pressure race, the Magic Millions, and she sits in the high-pressure zone.
“I can’t have her going in at 95 per cent. She’s a gross-doing filly so I think the seven-day back-up will be fine for her.”
McEvoy said Sunlight would need another run before the Magic Millions.
“There is an 1100-metre race a week before the Millions and at this stage that is where we are heading,” he said.
This year’s Magic Millions winner Houtzen and the winner of the 2015 race, Le Chef, both ran in the 1100m Gold Coast race a week before the Millions.
Sunlight will have a big advantage over many of her rivals by the time Millions day arrives.
The Zoustar filly will have had two races and a barrier trial on the Aquis Park circuit to give valuable experience.