Gollan couldn’t be happier Magic Millions 2YO filly Skirt The Law

January 12, 2023 8:07 am.

Master Eagle Farm trainer Tony Gollan believes pulling his stable star Skirt The Law from last week’s Gold Coast race meeting may not only prove to be a “blessing in disguise” but provide a big payday for the stable on Saturday.

Gollan had initially intended to run his unbeaten two-year-old at the Gold Coast last Saturday and back her up in the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) against a red-hot field of juveniles this weekend.

But the filly drew a very wide barrier and Gollan, not wanting her to have a “gut-busting” run so close to her main target, elected to scratch her and save her for the feature race where she is placed at $7 with ladbrokes to win the big 2YO race.

“It wasn’t crucial to run her last week,” Gollan told HorseBetting.com.au.

“If anything, the way the track played (last week) it has probably been a blessing in disguise.”

Gollan admitted he could not have Skirt The Law, a very well-developed filly, “any better”.

“She’s in great shape and she has drawn a nice barrier (4) so she should be able to use her natural gate speed to her advantage.

“She’s a real live life chance in the race.”

Everything has gone to plan, according to her astute trainer, including a trial on the Gold Coast course proper which he felt was essential for her to get a “first-hand feel of the track” last week.

“She worked really well on Tuesday,” he said.

“She worked well last Wednesday. We were able to work her on the course proper at Eagle Farm last week and Doomben this week.

“We also trialed her on the course proper at the Gold Coast last week and I couldn’t be happier with what we’ve done with her.

“She nice and fit.”

Gollan mapped out the Magic Million trail for Skirt The Law after the Better Than Ready filly impressively won her debut at Doomben on November 12.

She repeated the dose last month with a slashing victory for race jockey Ryan Maloney who took her to the line virtually untouched, with more than five lengths to spare and plenty of gas left in her tank.

“Everything has really gone to plan to be fair. Last week’s race was only an option but because of the barrier, she didn’t run.

“To be honest, things have fallen into place for us and I couldn’t be happier with her preparation.”

Saturday is Brisbane racing’s Grand Final day and Gollan is hoping to capture both the Magic Millions feature two-year-old with Skirt the Law and the $2 million Magic Million Guineas (1425m) for three-year-olds with either Spiritualised (James Orman) or last start winner Latakia (Tim Clark).

Saturday’s meeting pulls together the best horses, jockeys, and trainers and is one of the feature days on the Australian racing calendar.

“It’s the culmination of our summer carnival and you want your horses racing there to be in great shape.

‘If you go to this meeting you need a horse in good form and good condition otherwise you will get found out.

“It would be lovely to win both the two and three-year-old feature races this weekend and I’ve got live chances in both.

“I’m very happy with the form my horses are in which is very important on big race days like this.”