Ef Troop has had an easy hit-out in a jump-out in his final lead-up to the $2 million Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast.
Ridden by race jockey Matt McGillivray, the Tony Gollan-trained Ef Troop led all the way to beat another Classic candidate, stablemate Outback Barbie, on the Eagle Farm A grass on Friday.
Ef Troop, who is vying for Magic Millions favouritism with Newcastle-trained Jonker, cruised to the lead and wasn’t knocked about in the run to the line.
It was the pair’s first outing since winning stakes races at Doomben a month ago.
Gollan was happy with the effort of both in the jump-out.
“EF Troop ran a slick final 400 metres and won by a couple of lengths,” Gollan said.
“It should have topped him off nicely. Outback Barbie finished her work well and also did what I wanted.”
“If there is a breakneck pace in the Millions she will be the one running home.”
Jim Byrne will ride Outback Barbie who won her only start in the Calaway Gal Stakes last month.
“They won’t do much next week and let us just keep our fingers crossed that things continue to go right,” Gollan said.
“They are two-year-olds and things can go wrong but so far so good.”
Gollan said he would not be changing the pair’s race day patterns by heading to the Gold Coast a day early for the Millions.
“The traffic shouldn’t be too bad by the time they are to travel. They have both had trips to the Gold Coast for trials and are relaxed young horses,” he said.
