Leading jockey Michael Cahill’s decision to stick with Princess Bojack in the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes at Eagle Farm has boosted the confidence of trainer Michael Nolan.
Cahill partnered Princess Bojack when she scored a stylish win on debut at Eagle Farm on October 3 before a let-up.
“I’m more than happy with her going into Saturday and Michael Cahill wants to stay with her,” Nolan said.
“That gives me confidence because he would be getting a few other offers for other youngsters heading towards the Magic Millions.”
Princess Bojack earned $42,700 for her first win but is not guaranteed a start in the Millions unless she can build on that total in the next few weeks.
Nolan has not yet finalised a lead-up program to the Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 16, preferring to gauge her Eagle Farm performance.
“I just want to get through Saturday to see where we’re at against the good southeners like the top weight (Fake Love).
“I don’t want to plan too much until we see how we go against the better ones.”
Nolan is unsure about the quality of opposition Princess Bojack beat at her first start but believes her preparation has been faultless leading up to the Calaway Gal.
“She can do no more than win but obviously there’s a question mark about what she beat that day” he said.
“All I know is we’ve done everything right this prep to give her the best chance we can and so far it’s all worked out.”
Princess Bojack finished third in a recent barrier trial at Toowoomba but Nolan was happy with her performance.
“The filly that won it ran sensational time,” he said.
“They rarely break 37 seconds up here, if ever, for the 650 metres and she still found the line so I thought she did a good job.”
The daughter of Flying Artie is the second foal of Catseye Surprise who Nolan trained to win at Doomben at the back-end of her career after she did most of her racing in NSW.
Princess Bojack is on the second line of betting at $6 with TAB fixed odds for the Calaway Gal with Fake Love a $3.40 favourite.
