Father-son training duo Tony and Calvin McEvoy have tasted Magic Millions 2yo Classic success before and are following a similar path with talented filly Arabian Summer, a last start 3.5 length winner of the Ballarat Magic Millions 2yo Classic.
“One hundred per cent, the big race is the target, we obviously had success doing it in the past with Sunlight and the history of two-year-olds backing up the following week is very good,” Calvin McEvoy said.
According to father Tony, Calvin first identified the daughter of Too Darn Hot, with the stable purchasing her for $220,000 at the 2023 yearling sales.
Two stakes-placings to start her career gave good confidence the speedy filly had talent and a dominant win at Ballarat prompted the stable to target the Gold Coast, stepping beyond 1000m for the first time in Saturday’s 1100m Aquis Gold Pearl.
“I’m not sure what sort of track we’ll get but she’s shown versatility on all surfaces, she needs to run out a strong 1200 (metres) when it comes to the big race but the way she won the other day I would say that shouldn’t be a problem,” McEvoy said.
“We bought her because she was a very sharp type and she’s definitely strengthened up, she hasn’t grown a huge amount but she doesn’t really need to, she’s quite quick and uses herself well, I think she’ll continue to get better and I think she will get 1200 (metres).”
Noting a Gold Coast trip can be difficult for a juvenile, the stable would ideally like to bring Arabian Summer back to Melbourne for a Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) tilt, paying up for second acceptances today.
Also off a home-track Ballarat Cup day win is three-year-old filly Sunset Dreaming, who will run in a Class 4 over 1300m, again with the aim to back up into the Magic Millions 3yo Guineas.
Fifth in the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) prior, Sunset Dreaming justified her $1.60 quote to win comfortably in the Gold Eureka Stockade at Ballarat, notably on a seven-day backup.
“She showed she backed up very effectively at Ballarat, these horses have had a big trip up to the Gold Coast, and all being well she’ll back up into the three-year-old race,” McEvoy said.
Arabian Summer is an $11 chance with online bookmakers for the Magic Millions 2yo Classic while Sunset Dreaming is a $26 chance for the 3yo Guineas, with regular jockey Harry Coffey to make the trip up to ride all of the stable’s horses over the carnival.