Victorian trainer Shane Nichols is hoping it will be a case of second time lucky at the barrier draw for Tahitian Dancer in the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares race.
Nichols is best known for Group One winner I Am A Star but Tahitian Dancer is starting to edge closer as a stable favourite.
Tahitian Dancer has now won five of her 16 starts and nearly $350,000 in prize money.
Nichols decided to bring her to Queensland after she won two races in Victoria but was nearly stymied by an early nomination deadline for Saturday’s Listed Nudgee Quality at Eagle Farm.
When nominations were extended, Tahitian Dancer made the Nudgee field, albeit as bottom emergency.
She got in the field on Saturday and produced a flashing finish under Damien Oliver to ensure a start in the $1 million Fillies and Mares race on January 11 at the Gold Coast as a wild card.
“When she is let find her feet early she can really hit the line. She is here for the Millions and I was always keen to have her race against her own sex,” Nichols said.
Nichols rarely comes to Queensland but when he does his horses are competitive.
Tahitian Dancer will be only his second runner at the Magic Millions carnival.
He had I Am The General who ran 11th in the 2014 Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
“I thought he had a great chance but we drew barrier 16 and that was effectively that,” Nichols said.
“Hopefully, we get a better draw this time.”