Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have signalled their intent with Steel City by bringing John Allen to Sydney to ride the filly on debut at Rosehill on Saturday.
Steel City is at the top of betting for the Magic Millions Debut but is unlikely to get run as third emergency so will run run Sydney, which is somewhat a fallback to put some money in the bank for the Golden Slipper.
John Allen will come to Sydney to test smart filly Steel CIty on Saturday.Credit:Getty
The Merchant Navy filly was a late starter but won both her trials to have Maher and Eustace looking at the new Magic Millions race for first starters worth $500,000.
“She was too late to rush for the Magic Millions, but we were hoping to get into the Debut,” Eustace said. “We missed that field, so she can stay in Sydney.
“We said to Johnny would he like to go to Sydney, because we knew most of the jockeys would be up here [on the Gold Coast] and he was happy to come to Sydney for a nice filly that hasn’t put a foot wrong.
“It’s good to have one of our guys on.
“It was disappointing to not get a run in the Debut up here, but it was never going to be the be all and end all with her.
“The focus changes and the Golden Slipper is definitely in our sights.”
Steel City is a $2.30 favourite for the two-year-old race, where Menari started his career a couple of years ago.
Tulloch Lodge will debut a handy type in Red Resistance, which has had supporters at $4.80.
Maher and Eustace only have one other ride for Allen, who has picked up a near full book, in Royal Merchant, which is also a $3.70 favourite that it stays in Sydney looking for a third win in four starts.
“She is racing really well and was a chance of coming up here for the Guineas if she had won last time,” Eustace said.
“She has been one of the horses which our sports science team has found the way to get her into form, and she is still showing signs of improvement.”
