Tony Gollan will be aiming to win his second Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) in three years and will be represented by La Bella Boom, Hi Barbie and Formula Rossa.
La Bella Boom is the market pick of the trio having won the Aquis Gold Pearl (1100m) on Saturday at the meeting transferred to the Sunshine Coast, and Gollan believes she hits this at the right time.
“She’s probably got a bit of sense of timing and preparation about her. Everything really that I’ve wanted to happen has happened. It’s gone to plan… I wouldn’t fault her prep,” Gollan said.
With rain forecast for Saturday, Gollan is confident La Bella Boom will be suited by a testing 1200m, given the filly is on a quick backup and has won twice on rain affected going.
“She’s got the fitness score on the board. That seven-day backup just worked so well with so many horses and she’s the right horse for it. So I just think her preparation; she ticks every box for me,” Gollan said.
Gollan also suggested Hi Barbie was being overlooked by the market after pulling up with atrial fibrillation when dropping out as favourite in the Group 3 B J McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
Hi Barbie is a daughter of Outback Barbie, who Gollan trained to win the Magic Millions QTIS Open (1300m) in 2020.
“She won on a heavy 10 too. Obviously had that atrial fib. What worries you with her is the fact you’ve had the blip in the preparation. It’s hard enough to win these good races, let alone having a slight setback,” Gollan said.
“If I hadn’t have known she’d had it, I wouldn’t know. Physically, she’s really, really well. I haven’t had to alter anything I’ve done with her. So her preparation has gone exactly as I’d want as far as the training point goes, it’s just a matter of whether you can you forgive the atrial fib run.”
Gollan’s trio is rounded out by Formula Rosa, and while she’s one of the longest priced runners in the race, a possible wet track could see her perform better than expected.
“The wet weather’s her only hope. She was very good in the wet track at the Sunshine Coast. We’ll ride her back quiet. It looks like high pressure Magic Millions, most of them are. Obviously a very fit filly, she’s well-schooled, that might come into play,” Gollan said.
“I’m probably in a good point with all three of mine as far as any sort of affected going goes. But look, a gun to my head, I think La Bella Boom for me, particularly if the track becomes testing and it looks a high-pressure race.”
La Bella Boom is on the second line of betting at $6.50 and will again be ridden by Craig Williams, while Tim Clark will take the ride on $21 chance Hi Barbie and Angela Jones will stick with $101 chance Formula Rossa.