High profile owner Brae Sokolski is hoping Mighty can follow the trail blazed so successfully by the brilliant Coolangatta when she lines up in the Group 3 $250,000 BJ McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Coolangatta, who Sokolski part-owns, won the McLachlan Stakes last year before taking out the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at her next start last January.
Mighty is attempting a similar double after winning on debut at the Sunshine Coast last month.
“We feel Mighty has come on enormously since her first start and I hope she can put her hand up as a serious Magic Millions contender on Saturday,” Sokolski said.
“Her first-up win was nothing special to the eye but there were extenuating factors.
“She works like a serious horse at home. Her trainer, Tony Gollan has a good array of two-year-olds, he can get a line on them at home and I know he rates this filly very highly.
“Obviously we hope Mighty can show that on Saturday. Coolangatta won this race last year and it is a key lead-up race. The whole Magic Millions picture will be clearer after Saturday.”
Coolangatta trained to beat the older horses in the Group 1 Moir Stakes in spring before finishing fifth to In Secret in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Sokolski revealed Coolangatta is back in work with trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and is likely to be aimed at the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in February.
The owner also has shares in a number of talented carnival hopefuls for autumn including the Chris Waller-trained mare, Hinged.
Although Hinged went winless in five starts during spring, she was twice Group 1 placed in the George Main Stakes and Epsom Handicap, and also ran a close fifth in the Golden Eagle.
“Hinged has had a good break and she returned to training this week,” Sokolski said. “I think we will probably aim her towards a race like the Ranvet Stakes.”
Sokolski also shares in the owner of European galloper Light Infantry, who ran a close sixth in the Golden Eagle during spring.
“Light Infantry has gone back to Europe and is getting set for Royal Ascot next year,” Sokolski said.
“Then the plan is he will return to Australia in the spring for a Cox Plate campaign.”
Spanish Mission and Incentivise, who were placed behind Sokolski’s champion mare Verry Elleegant in the 2021 Melbourne Cup, are at various stages of their comebacks to racing.
Sokolski bought into Spanish Mission after the stayer’s ran third in the Melbourne Cup, but the seven-year-old suffered a leg injury after finishing third to Mr Brightside in the Feehan Stakes during spring.
“Unfortunately Spanish Mission is in recovery,” Sokolski said.
“He is on the path back and we are hopeful he can return for spring but it won’t be easy.”
Incentivise broke down after finishing runner-up in the Melbourne Cup and hasn’t raced for more than a year but Sokolski revealed the triple Group 1 winner is pleasing trainer Peter Moody ahead of an autumn campaign next year.
“I know ‘Moods’ is really happy with Incentivise, the horse is back in work and heading towards an Australian Cup,” Sokolski said.
“We would love to see him campaign in Sydney with the Queen Elizabeth Stakes high on the agenda. My sense is he will be bigger and better than ever.”
Originally published as Promising filly Mighty chasing the Coolangatta double
