Leading New Zealand trainer Lance O’Sullivan is oozing confidence with Karaka Millions 3YO favourite Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High).
The talented daughter of Ace High will be ridden by star Victorian jockey Blake Shinn from barrier 10.
Shinn has ridden Molly Bloom before, flying over to New Zealand to ride her when she won on Boxing Day.
A fascinating side battle between star Australian-based jockeys looms in the 3YO race, with well-backed second favourite Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) ($3.80 Ladbrokes) to be ridden by James McDonald from barrier one.
“We are pretty happy. I think for a filly like Molly Bloom, drawn out, gate 10, certainly I’d prefer to draw there as opposed to (being) in,” O’Sullivan said.
“She’s one of those fillies that likes a little bit of room and she’s certainly going to get a chance from there.”
O’Sullivan said he was hopeful his successful association with Shinn could continue in Saturday’s rich race.
“Blake, he’s ridden for us successfully in the past when he’s been here in New Zealand and he also won the Chairman’s Handicap for us in Sydney,” O’Sullivan said.
“So we’ve had a good association with Blake and of course, as you guys know better than what I do, but he’s a gun jock in Australia and he’s ridden all around the world and he’s ridden around the world successfully.”
