Tony Gollan believes Zelady’s Night Out is versatile enough to overcome whatever barrier she draws in the Magic Millions Classic but admits Capitalist is a major stumbling block.
Zelady’s Night Out confirmed her rating as second favourite for the $2 million race on January 9 with a comfortable win in Saturday’s Group Three B J McLachlan Stakes at the Gold Coast.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Capitalist is at $1.70 and could start the shortest priced favourite in Magic Millions history while Zelady’s Night Out is at $6.
Zelady’s Night Out is the best chance Brisbane’s premier trainer has had yet to win the race.
“Don’t get me wrong, I would like barrier one and the further out you go the less happy I would be,” Gollan said.
But Gollan said the filly had shown in the Bruce McLachlan she had great gate speed and could take up a handy position.
“It means she doesn’t have to lead. She can ping and then come back under her jockey. Horses who race handy in the Millions have an advantage,” he said.
“But to be fair Capitalist can do that as well. So unless you get a horror gate I don’t know if barriers will play a major role for either of us.”
Gollan said Zelady’s Night Out had come through Saturday’s race well despite feeling the firm track.
He will also have a key role in the $2 million Magic Millions Guineas with Most Important and hopefully My Girl Hayley.
“Most Important raced very well to finish second in the Vogue Rogue Plate after being trapped deep the whole way,” he said.
“He is getting fitter with each run and should be spot-on for Millions day.
“My Girl Hayley had no luck in the Vo Rogue.”
The filly finished seventh, beaten two lengths, in Saturday’s Vo Rogue and with $39,800 prize money she could struggle to make the Guineas field.
