Sunlight sizzles for Millions start

Jockey Luke Currie rides Sunlight to win the two-year-old handicap on the Gold Coast

Trainer Tony McEvoy was quick to examine his filly Sunlight after her Gold Coast win and declared her spot on to win next week’s $2 million Magic Millions Two Year Old 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 ($1.50 fav) strolled home by 4 1/2 lengths to Terminology ($6) with a half neck to Paquirri ($7) in the Two Year Old (1100m) on Saturday.

She 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.