Queenslanders ruled again as the Tony Gollan-trained Skirt The Law dominated in the $2,000,000 Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) in what is shaping as a memorable day for Lyndhurst Stud Farm’s Better Than Ready.
Ridden by Ryan Maloney, Skirt The Law kept her record at a perfect three for three, turning back a strong interstate challenge and becoming the first Queensland-trained winner since Houtzen in 2017.
Top-class Zoustar filly Platinum Jubilee ran into a few traffic problems, but she had her chance and was one and a half lengths astern of Skirt The Law at the finish.
To make it a clean sweep for the fillies, Exceed And Excel’s Summer Loving was a length back in third ahead of I Am Invincible’s Infatuation in fourth.
In addition to the $1,160,000 winner’s cheque, Skirt The Law picked up more than $350,000 for the ladies’ bonus.
Gollan said connections targeted the race from the day they bought her and will likely press on to the Golden Slipper.
“She’s a beauty - John Foote and the team bought her at the sales. I know we all say when we buy them that we’re going to get back here next year, but we identified her early as being early, and all she’s done is improve,” Gollan said.
“I had to trust her today, and she didn’t let me down.
“I’m very fortunate to have a good team that buys good horses.
“To train a filly like her is awfully exciting.
“There is a very excited bunch of ladies (involved). It has been an amazing journey. The ladies group chats started lighting up after her first win, and then we dreamed about being here on this day. And all the talk was about the ladies bonus.
“I really wanted to win this race, one of the best in Queensland, and now we’ve won it, it means so much.”
Maloney said he went into the race full of confidence.
“From the barrier draw and her trackwork, I was that confident. It went to script, and it was perfect for us in the run,” Maloney said.
“She’s that versatile, and she gives everything she’s got, and once the gap was there, it was basically all over.”
Bred and offered for sale by Lyndhurst Stud Farm, Skirt The Law was a $170,000 purchase for Gollan Racing/John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA)/Black Soil Bloodstock at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the first foal to race from the stakes-placed Exceed And Excel mare Outlaw Kate.
A $120,000 weanling pinhook for Ascot Farm, Outlaw Kate was a $150,000 buy for Phill Cataldo Bloodstock at the 2014 NZB Premier Yearling Sale.
Consigned by Segenhoe Stud to the 2019 National Broodmare Sale, Outlaw Kate sold to Lyndhurst Stud Farm for $30,000.
That proved a bargain when her half-brother Masked Crusader (Toronado) won the Group I MVRC William Reid Stakes and was runner-up in the Group 1 ATC TJ Smith Stakes and The Everest on the way to banking over $3.7million.
Outlaw Kate is a daughter of She’s Got Gears, who made a spectacular career debut when defeating Shaaheq and subsequent Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily in the Listed VRC AGL Renewable Energy Stakes (Ottawa Stakes). The daughter of Invincible Spirit failed to win another race, although she placed in the Group III Maribyrnong Plate and Group III Blue Diamond Prelude.
Outlaw Kate does not have a yearling but foaled a Nicconi colt on October 5.
The sire of the $1,000,000 Magic Millions QTIS Open winner Alpine Edge, Better Than Ready goes from strength to strength.
That is reflected at the sales, with eight yearlings in Book 1 of the Magic Millions averaging close to $200,000 and selling to $530,000.
