Trainer Kelly Schweida’s biggest worry with two-year-old Cellargirl has become a reality with the filly on the cusp of making the Magic Millions Classic field.
Cellargirl has been among the Magic Millions favourites since she scored an impressive win at Eagle Farm at her only start.
She picked up $40,200 for the win but is now in equal 14th place to make the final field of 16 for the Classic on January 14.
Cellargirl can pick up another $40,200 by winning the Two-Year-Old (1050m) at Doomben on Saturday which should assure her of a Classic start but with races in Sydney and Melbourne worth more in the lead-up, horses could go above her.
Schweida is among the Queensland trainers who have expressed worries about the imbalance in prize money between Brisbane juvenile races and those in the south.
An example of the trainers’ worries was Sydney two-year-old Goodfella who was able to leapfrog many Brisbane youngsters by winning at a Canterbury night meeting last week.
Schweida elected not to run Cellargirl in the Calaway Gal Stakes at Doomben last week and reserved her for Saturday’s race.
“She is only a light filly and this way she can go straight into the Classic without another run,” Schweida said.
“But if I had run her last week she would have had to contest the B J McLachlan Stakes next week and it might have flattened her.”
Cellargirl overcame difficulties on debut to beat Bring It Home Pop who has since won and confirmed a place in the Classic for himself.
Jockey James Orman won on Cellargirl and declared her the best two-year-old he had ridden this season.
Cellargirl is raced by a syndicate of women headed by Heidi Whalley, the partner of the late jockey Tim Bell, and is eligible for $500,000 in bonus payments if she makes the Classic field.
Whalley also straps Cellargirl who cost $90,000 and Schweida believes the filly can be a stakes horse later in her career.
Meanwhile, Schweida hopes for a dry track for Rockhampton Cup winner Ruling Force in the BRC Hcp (1615m).
Ruling Force has struggled against quality open company fields since resuming but Schweida believes getting into 1600m in two metropolitan win company will suit the gelding.
