After being runner-up to Devine Empress in the group 2 New Sensation and a finalist in the group 1 Ladbrokes National Futurity, Sam Sultana's Yuko Girl will be all the rage for tomorrow night's Gosford regional final of the TAB Million Dollar Chase.
But the box draw gives the Billy Dance-trained Mac Ibrox a great chance of running down Yuko Girl, a brilliant front runner.
In last Tuesday's heats Yuko Girl covered the Gosford 515m in a fast 29.14 while Mac Ibrox won the other heat in 29.19.
Yuko Girl will exit box four tomorrow night while Mac Ibrox will wear the red rug.
Billy Dance said: "Mac Ibrox's position on the rails is perfect because no matter where he draws he steps to the left when the boxes open.
"He went into last Tuesday's heat very fresh, certainly with less hard work than usual, so because he went so well he has had the same preparation this week.''
Casual Glance put a blood disorder and a groin injury behind him when he scored his 28th win in 51 starts at Wentworth Park on Saturday night and is now primed for the semi-finals of the TAB Million Dollar Chase at headquarters on April 29.
Casual Glance qualified for the MDC semis when he defeated Fortune Hunter in a regional final at Gunnedah on April 7 when having only his second race since November.
Mick Lill, whose wife Michelle trains Casual Glance, said on Saturday: "He was initially off the scene due to problems getting his blood right.
"It was affecting his kidneys and liver but when we got him over that he tore a muscle in his groin.
"Before Saturday night he had been going as well as ever in trials so his slow time of 30.32 for the 520m left me disappointed and mystified.
"But I guess I can't ask much more of him because this latest win took his earnings to more than $105,000.
"We might give Casual Glance one more race before the Chase semi-finals or he could be restricted to a couple of blow out runs up the straight.''
Cawbourne Hooper, another Million Dollar Chase aspirant who broke through for his first WP win on Saturday night, will be switched from sprints to middle distance racing after the rich series.
On Saturday Cawbourne Hooper came from fifth at the pen and fourth on the back straight to win a 520m WP fifth grade by one-and-a-half lengths in 30.27.
"His box manners are his problem but he gets to the line strongly so after the Million Dollar Chase series I plan to step him up in distance,'' trainer Talbot said after Saturday's WP win.
