Trainer Liam Birchley knows that there is plenty of improvement left in Missy Longstocking heading toward the $2m Jeep Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 12 after her win at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
Missy Longstocking held on to score from the fast finishing Maracoola in the Listed $100,000 Gaythorne RSL Calaway Gal Stakes (1000m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday and Birchley said that the Sequalo filly is on target for the Magic Millions.
“She’s not as forward as she was last start when she won,” Birchley said.
Winning jockey Damian Browne is hoping Birchely is right because he knows Missy Longstocking will definitely have to improve on that run to be a chance at the Gold Coast in a month.
“If she had been at her top then we would be worried, because she can’t win the Millions going on that,” Browne said.
“But Liam was very clear she was nowhere near her top and that was borne out in the way she raced.
“Last time she just did everything perfectly and was totally relaxed. This time she was a bit revved up and over raced too.”
Missy Longstocking shot into Magic Millions contention with a seven lengths win over 1000m against the fillies at Eagle Farm on November 3 and BIrchley knows on that run how much horse has has to work with.
Leading trainer Robert Heathcote is hoping to throw his hat into the Magic Millions discussions with his filly Greytfilly after she runs at Doomben on Saturday.
Greytfilly has had a freshened up after scoring a comfortable win over 1110m at Doomben on October 27 and Heathcote is looking forward to the Ferocity filly lining up against the colts and geldings as well as the fillies after scratching her from Eagle Farm last Saturday.
“I felt 1000m would be too short because she needs time to balance up, plus this week she can run against the boys, which will hopefully mean less weight,” Heathcote said.
“She’s taken a lot of mental improvement out of the break and has a whole new attitude now.
“I don’t doubt her ability. I’ve been working her with Open company horses and she’s been beating them.
“Hopefully she wins on Saturday and we can then go three weeks into the Magic Millions.”
Rick Hore-Lacy’s colt Clevadude jumped to the top of the Magic Millions market at $10 with an impressive first up win over 1000m at Cranbourne on Saturday night.
The Caulfield trainer will give the Bel Esprit youngster another run at Moonee Valley in two weeks and hopefully will earn valuable prizemoney if he can win the $80,000 Two Year Old Plate (1000m) and secure a start at the Gold Coast a fortnight later.
