Lady Of Camelot has history in her sights as she chases victory in the inaugural Magic Millions Sunlight

Lady Of Camelot is ready to join fellow Golden Slipper and former Tulloch Lodge resident, Ha Ha, on the Magic Millions honour roll with victory in the Sunlight this weekend.

Golden Slipper winners Lady Of Camelot and jockey Blake Shinn reunite in the Magic Millions Sunlight at the Gold Coast. Picture: Bradley Photos

Lady Of Camelot is poised to become the first Golden Slipper in more than two decades to win a major Magic Millions race as an older horse at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Lady Of Camelot is the $2.70 TAB Fixed Odds favourite to win the inaugural $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight (1100m) slot race.

Waterhouse trained the last Golden Slipper winner to make their mark at the Magic Millions when Ha Ha returned as a three-year-old to win the Guineas in 2002.

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Since Ha Ha, there’s been some outstanding Magic Millions graduates win the Golden Slipper like Dance Hero (2004) and Capitalist (2016) but they did not race at the Gold Coast after their two-year-old season.

Lady Of Camelot is the only Group 1 winner in The Sunlight field and her grip on the rich sprint tightened after she drew the rails barrier for Saturday’s rich sprint.

“We sent Lady Of Camelot to the Gold Coast earlier this week and she arrived there in really good shape,” Bott said.

“She’s obviously turning around off the spring carnival but if she reproduces the form she showed during the spring, she should run very well.”

Lady Of Camelot hasn’t won since the Golden Slipper 10 months ago but she did race very competitively at the top level during spring with Group 1 placings in the Moir Stakes and Coolmore Stud Stakes, and her close fourth in Bella Nipotina’s The Everest.

Champion jockey Blake Shinn, who won the Golden Slipper on Lady Of Camelot, is back on the filly for the first time this season in The Sunlight.

Lady Of Camelot will run in the $3 million Sunlight on Jan 4th at @GCTurfClub. She is the $2.50 @tabcomau favourite and one to beat! 🏇@mmsnippets@[e-mail]/8t3WynsDpF

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 17, 2024

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Bott said Lady Of Camelot, who has earned more than $5.2 million prizemoney already, retains some residual fitness from her spring campaign but she was readied for the Gold Coast race with a brilliant barrier trial win over the speedy Bonita Queen at Hawkesbury last month.

“Her trial was excellent and she seems well in herself,” Bott said. “The barrier draw was kind to her so she should get every chance to run up to her best.”

The Waterhouse and Bott stable also has unbeaten filly Gerringong going for her third win at her debut race preparation in The Sunlight.

Gerringong, part-owned by leading Sydney racing identity John Singleton and rugby league legends Mick Cronin, Bob O’Reilly and Peter Wynn, has drawn barrier eight and is at $11 in latest betting.

“Although Gerringong is deep into her campaign, she is fit and well, and full of confidence,” Bott said.

Waterhouse and Bott are chasing the feature race treble at the Gold Coast with The Novelist contesting the $1 million Magic Millions The Syndicate (1100m) and Gold Bullion in the $500,000 Magic Millions The Wave (1800m).

That was impressive! 🔵⚪

Gerringong sprouted wings late under @clarkyhk and wins on debut for @GaiWaterhouse1 + some rugby league legends! pic.twitter.com/YJmNt106Wq

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 29, 2024

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The Novelist is at $15 despite his impressive recent form which includes winning at the Kembla Grange stand-alone meeting then a narrow loss to Bauhinia in the Wyong Magic Millions 3-4yo Classic last start.

“This is a nice target race for The Novelist,” Bott said.

“He ran very well last start. He sustained plenty of pressure but stuck on gamely. He is coming back to 1100m but I don’t think that is an issue with him as he races on speed.”

Gold Bullion won the Listed Members Mile at Eagle Farm last start and is on the second line of betting at $4 for The Wave.

“I thought Gold Bullion was very tough and very brave last start,” Bott said.

“He looks well placed in that race on Saturday. He needs things to go his own way but when it does he’s a talented horse.”

The Waterhouse and Bott-trained Keenan ($14) completes the stable’s line-up at the Gold Coast when he runs in the $250,000 Magic Millions Rising Stars (1300m).

At Royal Randwick, Waterhouse and Bott are represented by last start winner Sly Boots ($4.80) in the TAB Handicap (1600m), Soul Choice ($18) is at her peak for the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (2000m), and Silent Impact ($6) is second-up in the Ranvet Handicap (1500m).

Originally published as Lady Of Camelot has history in her sights as she chases victory in the inaugural Magic Millions Sunlight