Oakleigh Girl the real deal says Cahill

Magic Millions favourite Oakleigh Girl is the real deal according to premiership jockey Michael Cahill who rode the filly for the first time on Tuesday morning.

Michael Cahill will ride Oakleigh Girl, above, in the Calaway Gal Stakes at Doomben

Michael Cahill will ride Oakleigh Girl, above, in the Calaway Gal Stakes at Doomben. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

“I gave her a squeeze inside the furlong and she did everything I expected her to. I think she’s the real deal,” Cahill told AAP.

“She’s a professional type and a nice, calm filly which is a good sign for an early two-year-old.”

“When I galloped her on Tuesday she just did pacework with an older companion and dashed up two furlongs.”

Oakleigh Girl gave bookmakers no choice but to install her the $5 favourite for the $2m Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 11 after scoring an all the way win on debut down the Flemington straight on Melbourne Cup Day when ridden by Craig Newitt.

Cahill will be aboard the Snitzel filly on Saturday in the Listed $100,000 Channel Seven Calaway Gal Stakes (1010m) at Doomben and another impressive win will see her shorten further in Magic Millions betting.

Trainer Danny Bougoure snapped up Cahill for Saturday’s hit out after a change of plans saw Newitt take rides at Flemington on Saturday.

Bougoure had originally planned to run Oakleigh Girl in a barrier trial next week but had a change of heart and went for a run against the fillies at Doomben.

“I planned to give her a 1000 metre trial on Tuesday week but the trial is now Thursday so it was probably just getting a bit tight time wise getting closer to the race,” Bougoure said.

“I thought that we would run her on Saturday in the 1000 metre fillies race at set weights.”

Oakleigh Girl was a $400,000 purchase from this year’s Magic Millions Sales on the Gold Coast and the Eagle Farm trainer knew he had a ready made two year old from day one.

“She has shown us from day one that she obviously has above average ability,” Bougoure said.

“She has always gone straight and nothing has ever fazed her.”

Oakleigh Girl is sure to start an odds on favourite in the Calaway Gal Stakes and Cahill has a great chance to ride the two year old double with Vienna Royale also certain to start in the red in the Listed $100,000 Walker Technical Phelan Ready Stakes (1000m)  for the colts and geldings.

While Cahill will get an armchair ride on Oakleigh Girl from barrier three, the Tony Gollan trained Vienna Royale has drawn the outside of the eleven horses field and will have to use all of his speed that he showed in winning his first race start by five and half lengths over the same course and distance back on October 5.

Vienna Royale is currently marked as a $12 chance in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.