Trainer Tony McEvoy says Sunlight is ready for Magic Millions 2YO Classic

JOCKEY Luke Currie hopes to celebrate long in to the night at next week’s $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic but there was no time to waste during his win with Sunlight on Saturday.

Jockey Luke Currie rides Sunlight to win race 2, the QTIS Two-Years-Old Handicap, during the Ladies Day Raceday at Aquis Park on the Gold Coast. Picture: AAP Image, Albert Perez.

JOCKEY Luke Currie hopes to celebrate long in to the night at next week’s $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic but there was no time to waste during his win with Sunlight on Saturday.

Currie was at the airport bound for a friend’s wedding in Tasmania less than an hour after riding the Tony McEvoy-trained Sunlight to victory in the QTIS Two-Years-Old Handicap (1100m) at the Gold Coast.

It ensured Sunlight’s spot in the 16-horse field for next Saturday’s 2YO Classic where Currie hopes to repeat the result and enjoy the spoils afterwards.

“Hopefully I can stay and celebrated next weekend,” Currie said.

“A mate of mine from school is having his wedding in Launceston and I promised him I’d be there.

“I’m on a plane to Melbourne then on to Launceston.”

Currie made it in time for the reception and the whirlwind trip to the Gold Coast could land him an even bigger prize next week.

Currie said the filly had improved since winning at the same track a fortnight earlier after strolling home by 4 ½ legnths to Terminology ($6) with a half neck to Paquirri ($7).

“I thought she did it a bit more professionally than what she did last time,” Currie said.

“I knew her first start she got a bit anxious and it probably cost her. The other day she was really good and she has improved off the back of that.

“On the way to the gates she cantered around like she had done it a 100 times. s

“She wasn’t quite as quick out last time, she flew the machines and I could have done anything with her.

“Waterhouses horse (Terminology) came up and put pressure on her midrace so she had to keep running that time.

“She didn’t get that chance to really back off and sprint home and she was still as good through the line.”

McEvoy was quick to examine his filly Sunlight after her Gold Coast win and declared her spot on to win next week’s 2YO Classic.

McEvoy has planned Sunlight’s Magic Millions campaign down to the last detail and he has his fingers crossed that things continue to go well.

Sunlight clocked 62.48 which was well inside Houtzen’s previous class record of 64.18.

Houtzen ran that time when she won the same race last start before going on to take the Millions Classic.

McEvoy said Sunlight had pulled up very well and would have an easy week at Nudgee Beach, near Brisbane, next week.

“She has pulled up fine and her lungs are clear and she is much better than when she won her previous start this track. She is spot on,” McEvoy said after giving Sunlight a post-race inspection.

“That was easy to watch but she is a very good filly. She is a bit feisty around the stables like most girls. You don’t want to get in her space but she switches on race day.” McEvoy said Sunlight’s campaign had been carefully planned around getting to Queensland early.

“The Magic Millions Classic is a hard race to win from the south. I wanted to give her two starts here and the way it has panned out both of them have been at the Gold Coast where the Classic will be run,” McEvoy said.

“I wanted her feeling like a local on race day.” McEvoy is so careful with the filly he is even considering leaving Brisbane early on Millions day to beat the traffic which was again terrible on Saturday. Tim Clark, who rode Terminology, said his filly had gone with Sunlight early but the winner had her covered on the home.

Jockey Michael Walker said Paquirri had got too far back but had been hitting the line well.

There was a sensational shortly after the start when Boom Girl bucked and dislodged her rider Bridget Grylls.

Grylls was able to walk back to scale while Boom Girl jumped the running rail and completed the course on the inside track.