Trainer Tony McEvoy is planning to run Grand Scholar at the Gold Coast in the hope she will clinch a spot in the rich Magic Millions 3YO Guineas at the same track a week later.
McEvoy, who trains in partnership with his son Calvin, has nominated Grand Scholar for Saturday’s $250,000 Magic Millions Rising Stars 3YO and 4YO Fillies and Mares Class 4 Plate (1300m) after scratching the filly from the Nudgee Stakes at Eagle Farm last weekend when she drew wide.
Grand Scholar is still down the order of entry for the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) on January 11 and not yet assured a start in the race which has a field limit of 16 plus emergencies.
“She’s just a bit down the order to get in – she’s not quite in the field – so we’re running her at the Gold Coast on Saturday,” McEvoy said.
“I had her in on Saturday but she drew barrier 23 up there so we scratched her.
“She’s in really good order. I’m very pleased with her.”
Grand Scholar has won three from three this preparation in Victoria, her most recent by six lengths in a fillies and mares benchmark-70 over 1200m at The Valley on December 6.
“I think she’s kept that form and been happy with the travel so she’s just got to stay in that vein of form and she’ll be competitive up there,” McEvoy said.
“She’ll run Saturday and then back up into the big race.
“There is a fillies and mares race that she could run in on the big day as well if she doesn’t make the three-year-old race.”
