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It’s a last chance saloon moment for spruik filly Honey Pot but premier trainer Tony Gollan says there will be no regrets if she doesn’t make next weekend’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic field by winning Saturday’s Gold Pearl (1100m) on the Gold Coast.
The two-year-old snuck into the $125,000 race by the barest of margins after Kacy Fogden decided to scratch Media Scandal on Thursday afternoon, bringing Honey Pot – the first emergency – into the 10-horse field.
While it has always been Gollan’s plan to run Honey Pot the week before Magic Millions with a quick back up into the $2m feature seven days later, there has been some bumps in the road.
Honey Pot reared in the gates and missed the kick badly in her only start on the Sunshine Coast in November, ultimately costing her the race and throwing Gollan’s plans into disarray too.
“The original plan was to win on the Sunshine Coast, run the week before (Gold Pearl) and back up into the race but obviously that never happened so the plan started off pretty ordinary,” Gollan laughed.
The plan was further tested when it was announced that the Gold Pearl would have a field limit of just 10 horses, leaving Gollan and connections sweating on a run.
Tony Gollan and jockey Ryan Maloney will combine with Honey Pot at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters — Trackside Photography.
“We have kept the same plan but now we’re on a knife’s edge and if we don’t win, we don’t run (next week) but to be fair if we don’t win, we don’t deserve to run,” Gollan said.
“At the end of the day, we are still following the same route, she has had the one jump out going into it and I’m pretty happy with where she’s at.
“Her work has been very good, everything about her has been good and I think she has improved sharply off the jump out, she will run well but no races are easy.
“I’m sure she is going to be a bloody nice filly but whether it is all too soon for her, we will find out on Saturday.”
Rated a $5 chance on Saturday to book her ticket into the Magic Millions, Honey Pot has her work cut out for her from barrier 12 under Ryan Maloney, who replaces Stephanie Thornton.
Gollan also has last-start winner Garibaldi entered at Rosehill, with the trainer stuck for a plan with the gelding not being Magic Millions eligible.
Already rated a Heavy 8 however, Gollan says he could scratch Garibaldi should the surface stay in the ‘heavy’ range.
“He is in the right race, the market tells me that but marrying the form up between the two states is never easy,” Gollan said.
Ballarat trainer Andrew Noblet will attempt a surgical strike with noted first-up performer Ginger Jones at Caulfield on Saturday.
Will Hulbert has form for training long-priced winners in big races and the larrikin who jokingly refers to himself as a “no-name trainer” has warned he could spring a major Magic Millions surprise.
Victorian galloper Confrontational will have the services of an old mate in the first run of his Queensland raid in The Wave at the Gold Coast.
Ciaron Maher is content with the progress of Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic favourite Coolangatta and feels she could be lengths better in the big dance on Saturday week.
Another look at the Gold Coast track almost has Victorian colt Cusack ready to tackle Saturday week’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Tulloch Lodge will look to use a seven-day turnaround to thrust Uncorked into the $2m Magic Millions 2YO Classic picture as stablemate Shihonka has received the tick of approval for her 3YO Guineas assault.
An All Star cast with a combined 23 Group 1 victories for premier trainer Chris Waller made early strides on Tuesday towards what shapes as another massive autumn.
Tony Gollan is sweating on a start for his highly talented two-year-old filly Honey Pot to try to stamp her Gold Coast Magic Millions ticket in a last chance saloon race on Saturday.
Magic Millions 3YO Guineas favourite Jamaea is set to trial on Tuesday before tackling the $2m feature first-up after being scratched from last Saturday‘s Listed Nudgee Stakes at Doomben.
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