Recent history could sway trainer Tony Gollan to back Sunshine Coast winner Just Orm up into the $2 million Magic Millions Classic.
Just Orm ($2.20 fav) led all the way to earn $41,600 and a place in next week’s Classic field with his win in Saturday’s Yalumba 2YO Hcp (1000m).
Gollan said he would wait a couple of days before deciding whether Just Orm would join his unbeaten stablemate Zelady’s Night Out, the Classic second favourite, at the Gold Coast.
“I will see how he pulls up in the next 48 hours. I think today’s run would have topped him off nicely and he is the type of horse who could take up a position in the Classic,” Gollan said.
“Also recent history is on our side. Real Surreal won the Classic in 2013 after racing the week before and Le Chef also won the week before when he took the last Classic.”
However, Gollan said there was a $150,000 race at the Sunshine Coast on January 16.
“It is a perfect race for Just Orm. If we think Just Orm isn’t ready we can always wait for that race,” he said.
If Just Orm runs at the Gold Coast, Gollan will have to find a new jockey as Saturday’s winning rider Jim Byrne will stick with Zelady’s Night Out.
“I am sure there will be plenty of jockeys chasing the ride,” Gollan said.
The win took Just Orm’s overall earnings to $76,100 but about $30,000 of that is in bonus payments which do not count towards a place in the Classic field.
Just Orm’s win put Sunshine Coast two-year-old Rare Occurrence in danger of missing the Magic Millions Classic.
Rare Occurrence was 15th in the order of entry but has dropped a place with the Gai Waterhouse-trained Rosehill winner Scarlet Rain moving up the order and Emteevee dropping out of the race.
The Kevin Kemp-trained Emteevee was No.8 in the ballot but has been withdrawn because of leg soreness.
Rare Occurrence’s trainer Stuart Kendrick provided the runner-up to Just Orm in the well bred Charnley River ($17), who is a full brother to Group One winner Woorim.
“Charnley River isn’t a Magic Millions horse so it would have been nice if he could have knocked Just Orm out of the way,” Kendrick said.
“But that is the way things go and Charnley River will tackle the $150,000 race here in a fortnight.”
