Tony McEvoy’s Magic Millions plans disrupted with lack of flights to carry potential Gold Coast runners

Trainer Tony McEvoy hasn’t held back in his disappointment that suitable air travel could not be provided to get some of his horses to the Queensland Summer Carnival.

Multiple Group 1-winning trainer Tony McEvoy believes Queensland authorities should consider chartering planes to get horses to their carnivals after his Magic Millions preparations were thrown into disarray this week.

McEvoy had planned to run four horses at Doomben and Eagle Farm on Friday and Saturday but has been unable to get them to Queensland.

The horses, two-year-olds Zeppa, Lopez and Who Runs The World, and four-year-old Despacito are all being aimed at Magic Millions races in January.

“Let’s just say I am not very happy. I have had two planes cancelled on me this week,” McEvoy said. “It looks like the next plane I can get is on December 17 which is obviously too late for this week.”

McEvoy said transport was becoming a regular problem for southern-based trainers in recent years.

“I don’t want a free ride and I will happily pay my way,” McEvoy said. “But if they want our horses up there, it might be an idea to help get them there.”

Trainer Tony McEvoy says the lack of charactered flights to Queensland is a problem.

DRINKS CART HAS SLIGHT WOBBLE

One of the leading contenders for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, The Drinks Cart, has had a slight setback and will miss a scheduled start at Doomben.

A brilliant debut winner at the Gold Coast last month, The Drinks Cart was to return in Friday’s Listed Phelan Ready Stakes.

He will now run in a $125,000 QTIS Two-Year-Old Plate (1000m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday week.

Co-trainer Trent Edmonds said The Drinks Cart had four days on the family farm after his Gold Coast win.

“When we got him back in his blood count wasn’t quite right and he had a slight temperature spike,” Edmonds said.

The Drinks Cart salutes at the Gold Coast. Picture: Trackside Photography

“It is nothing serious and we could have run him Friday, but there is no rush and why risk him.

“The race at Eagle Farm has a first prize of $72,500 and that will be plenty to get into the Millions. There will be a few good ones in that race but you have got to meet them some time.”

The Drinks Cart is on the third line of Ladbrokes betting at $11 in for Magic Millions Classic, behind Every Rose ($6.50) and Stellar Pauline ($9).

Another Queensland Magic Millions 2YO Classic hopeful, Gotta Kiss, showed she was on track with an impressive win in a trial at Deagon on Monday morning.