All a horse has to win, as they say, and Barbie’s Sister made the necessary progress from a second placing last start to follow-up with victory in the Listed Calaway Gal (1000m) at Eagle Farm.
A steppingstone to next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at Gold Coast, trainer Tony Gollan said that despite being too good for the field of mostly unraced talent in this event, the step up a further 200-metres may still a slight stretch.
Barbie’s Sister ($1.75 bookmakers favourite), a full-relation to popular Queensland black-type performer Outback Barbie, debuted at Sunshine Coast November 18 and travelled without cover throughout.
An easy win for the favourite Barbie's Sister! @tonygollan pic.twitter.com/jMRNoOo2JS
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 9, 2023
“They’re always better for a run, I was just a little bit worried about how much that run would take out of her at the Sunny Coast, especially the two days straight after, she knew she’d had a race,” Gollan said.
“The last fortnight has just been perfect, the last ten days is the best she has done in the feed bin and around the yard the whole time we’ve had her in the prep.”
Outback Barbie finished third to Sunlight in the Magic Millions feature in 2018 and Gollan has confidence that this filly can also make an impression.
“She is very similar to her sister,” he said.
“She (Outback Barbie) was the same, she just progressed that Magic Millions summer, she just kept getting better and better, week on week, towards the big race.
“This filly, she gives me that same sort of feel so hopefully it’s all roads onwards and upwards now towards the Magic Millions.”
The rise in distance being the only niggle Gollan has for now.
“At this point in time I’m still a touch nervous for 1200 so that will probably see us out to that trip at some stage prior to Magic Millions.
“I will just let the dust settle on this, I know she’s got a lot of improvement in her.
“She’s a real racehorse, she has run an incredible time for two-year-olds here today (57.66 seconds) so she has done super.”
Barbie’s Sister, a $300,000 purchase at the 2023 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, won by 1½-lengths over the Kelly Schweida-trained El Morzillo ($15) with Satin Stiletto ($14) a further length away in third.
Barbie’s Sister is rated an $11 chance for the 2yo Classic on January 13 with Storm Boy the $5 favourite.
Earlier, in the Listed Phelan Ready (1000m) for colts and geldings, much of the Magic Millions interest was diluted with the scratching of the Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace-trained Spywire.
After scratchings, a field of four saw the Tony and Maddysen Sears-trained Beau Dazzler ($2.40 favourite) take the $200,000 event.
“I don’t think you’ll find a horse that will try to get himself beat as much as he did then,” Maddysen said.
“He’s very green. We never expected him to race this early to be honest. He’s surprised us but I think he’s got a bright future when he starts thinking about being a racehorse.”
Beau Dazzler was an $80,000 buy at the Karaka Sales in New Zealand.