Trainer Michael Nolan is not totally surprised with Miss Cavallo’s win at Doomben in one of the biggest upsets of the season in Brisbane.
Miss Cavallo ($61) came from second last to swamp the favourite Sugar Boom ($1.50) in the Two-Year-Old Handicap (1200m).
The filly was well beaten at her only other start at the Sunshine Coast in December and Nolan spelled her immediately.
“I know the Sunshine Coast looked poor but she was never on the track. She had strengthened up and I would have given her a top chance except for the wraps on Sugar Boom,” Nolan said.
“I said to Dale (jockey Smith) to let her find her feet and see if she could run home.”
Nolan hopes to have two runners in the $500,000 Aquis Jewel (1200m) at the Gold Coast on March 16.
“We had Accomplice in it last year and she ran midfield. Miss Cavallo will make the field and we have Secondofmay at Doomben on Saturday also hoping to qualify.”
Miss Cavallo was sold for $55,000 Magic Millions March Sales and was offered by Raheen Stud which is run by Nolan’s uncle, Basil Nolan.
Trainer Tony Gollan will now regroup after his worst fears were proved correct when Sugar Boom was run down when four lengths clear at the 200m.
Sugar Boom had won two trials in great fashion and before the race Gollan said his only worry was a two-year-old trying to win on debut at 1200m.
Gollan will now have to reassess Sugar Boom’s immediate future as she is unlikely to have enough prize money to make the Aquis Jewel field.
“We will take Sugar Boom home and see how she pulls up. There are some nice races around for her. I don’t know if she will make the Jewel field but we can look south or to the winter,” he said.
