Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Glen Milligan is first to admit his latest Newhaven Park Country Championships Final contender That’s Molly is not the same class as a horse like Charmmebaby, but after a barnstorming Wild Card win at Scone can’t wait to see what she does at Randwick.

That’s Molly is the fifth horse the Milligan family, between Glen and his late father Bob, has qualified for Randwick with Charmmebaby’s third in 2021 behind Art Cadeau and Another One the best result.

He admits he thought That’s Molly may have missed her chance when failing on the very heavy track at Tuncurry in the Mid North Coast Championships last month but took her to the Wild Card confident she could surprise a few.

“We had something on her at $61, I thought she was a good each-way hope and the other owner who has 10 per cent had something on her so that’s good,’’ Milligan said.

“I thought she could win the heat out at Tuncurry until what happened there but we said we were coming here no matter what.

“They just had bad weather and everything fell apart. We’ve had a good run (in the series), it’s always a thrill to get to Sydney and I’d love to win one.

“She doesn’t go as well as Charmmebaby but she tries her heart out. It’s nice to get a result when you know the horse is going well.”

THAT'S MOLLY is in the @newhavenpark Country Championships Final!

Glen Milligan's mare sweeps home from the back to take the Northern Wild Card at @sconeraceclub at big odds and book a spot in the $1m decider, downing Sharp Shock and Belvedere Boys. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/6WBHP047br

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) March 22, 2024

Ash Morgan rode a patient race on That’s Molly and she produced the sort of finish Milligan knew she can, running 11.82 for her last 200m (Punter’s Intelligence), to beat the more favoured Sharp Shock with Belvedere Boys in third.

The Taree trainer said he won’t need to do too much with the five-year-old between now and the $1 million Newhaven Park Country Championships Final (1400m) on April 6, where she’s a $34 chance with TAB after firming from $101 pre-race.

“It’s probably worked out ideally a fortnight out from the Final,’’ he said.

“There’s a little more improvement, she’s got to improve but it’s the same story - she’ll want to draw an alley and for there to be speed in Sydney.”

That’s Molly set Milligan back $7000 as a tried horse out of Victoria, largely to give his then apprentice Zac Wadick a horse to ride and the young hoop had been on board for all five previous wins.

It was Morgan’s first sit on the horse and he has secured the ride in the Final. He said the mare did a big job having drawn an outside gate but he was able to find the right horses to follow into the home straight.

“I didn’t really have any dangers of the horses in front of me it was just whether Belvedere Boys got a good run through,’’ he said.

“She was very good, she tried her guts out and was strong late.”

All the results and replays from Friday's Country Championships meeting at Scone