Skirt The Law’s win in the Zousain First Yearlings Handicap for two-year-olds notched the important qualification milestone for next month’s $2 million Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at Gold Coast.
Stepping out at Doomben on Saturday for her second career outing, Skirt The Law scored an impressive five length win over 1200 metres to continue her perfect record after also winning there over 1050 metres on November 12.
Ridden by Ryan Maloney, Skirt The Law ($1.35 fav) joins stablemate Mighty – a winner on debut at Gold Coast on November 26 – in spearheading Gollan’s attack on the January juvenile feature.
“She’s improved that much from the other day,” Moloney said.
“She knew what it was about today. She was a bit more awake and she stepped cleanly.
“You don’t know with two-year-olds (as) one day they’re here, the next day they’re gone.
“Tony knows when to push and when to ease up so she’s in good hands.”
Gollan’s management came into play with a deliberate 21-day break between those runs and a decision on whether Skirt The Law will step out again before the Gold Coast meeting on January 14 still to be made.
“We felt coming to the races first-up that she was underdone but she surprised a lot of people how well she went,” Gollan said.
“We’ve always had a good opinion of this filly and the improvement was there to be seen today.
“Being able to give her the 21 days into today has been key and I think there’s more to come.
“We’re five weeks out from the Magic Millions so we’ve got time to back off and then put the foot down and attack the race.”Should she win, Skirt The Law would also be eligible for a $500,000 ‘ladies bonus’ with her all female ownership.
“I knew she would enjoy the 1200 metres more than the 1000 and we’re going to head to ‘the Coast’ with a filly who we know who is going to run a strong 1200.”
Second favourite Torque I Tee ($3.80) finished second Arbat ($16) filled the minor placing a further five lengths away.
Gollan indicated that Mighty may been seen again in Group 3 BJ McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on December 24.
Despite doing a lot of their trackwork together, both horses were unlikely to be pitted against each other at the races until Magic Millions Day.
