| They were forced to wait five days longer than first thought, but the locals celebrated when Skirt The Law ensured a Queensland victory in Thursday’s $2 million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m, RL). |
| The daughter of Better Than Ready provided Tony Gollan and Ryan Maloney with their first wins in one of Australia’s most sought-after two-year-old races – which was delayed after Saturday’s meeting was postponed after two races – when she kept her unbeaten record in tact with a dominant display in the 1200-metre Restricted Listed event. Gollan, who is Brisbane’s leading trainer and won multiple Group 1 races, described it as one of the wins of his career. “She’s a beauty,” Gollan said of Skirt The Law. “John Foote and the team, they bought her at the sales and 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. “I said I really wanted to win this race and it is one of the best races in Queensland and now we’ve won it. It means so much.” Skirt The Law ($7) jumped well from barrier two and Maloney was content to settle behind leaders Royal Entrance and Fire Lane before taking over the 200m and pulling away to score by 1-1/2 lengths. Second over the line was Platinum Jubilee ($6.50) with Summer Loving ($20) one length away third. Completing an all-fillies First 4 was $26 chance Infatuation. Maloney, a Victorian who relocated to Queensland several seasons ago, was full of praise for Skirt The Law after the win. “From the barrier draw and from her trackwork I was that confident,” he said. “It went to script and it was perfect for us in the run. “She’s that versatile and she gives everything she’s got and once the gap was there it was basically all over.” The victory made it three wins from as many starts for Skirt The Law, who won her first start by 2-3/4 lengths before a 5-1/4-length win at Doomben on December 3. She was a $170,000 buy out of the Lyndhurst Stud draft at last year’s Gold Coast Yearling Sale with Gollan buying in partnership with John Foote and Black Soil Bloodstock. It was not only the $1.16m winner’s cheque that she earned for connections, also banking the bulk of the $500,000 Racing Women’s Bonus, which was on offer to three runners. Her owners picked up an extra $333,334, while Miss Coota collected $108,334 after finishing one position ahead of Croatian Belle, who earned an extra $58,334. |
