After Call books a trip to the Gold Coast

After Call has booked a trip north to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions race day with a narrow win at Caulfield.

But trainer Mick Price admitted he had been expecting an easier win than the one that eventuated in the Joe Brown Plate on Monday.

“I hope the second horse is a good horse,” Price said.

Ridden by Damien Oliver, After Call was sent out the $2.50 favourite before scoring a short-half-head win over Oak Door ($2.70) with Emptor ($6.50) another short-head away third.

Price has two options for After Call at the Gold Coast, the $1 million Magic Millions Fillies and Mares (1300m) or the $2 million Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) on January 14.

“There’s improvement to come and there would need to be because there’s two races at the Gold Coast that are options for her,” Price said.

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“It gives her the prize money now to take her up there and have a go but I thought she might have won a little bit more impressively than that.”

Oliver said he was reluctant to hand up the lead on the filly and become boxed in.

He said as a consequence she had to do more work than anticipated which in turn softened her up.

“I thought she fought on bravely,” Oliver said.

“She was second-up today and it was only her third start in a race so she’s doing a good job.”

Oliver suggested the 1300m race against the fillies and mares might be the softer option for After Call.

“Being a young filly without too much experience I think distance-wise against the fillies and mares might be the better option,” Oliver said.