If you saw Nick Olive celebrating in Flemington's betting ring you might have thought Single Gaze had already won the $2 million Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic (1200 metres).
But the Canberra trainer will now plot a course for the Gold Coast in January after his Not A Single Doubt filly swooped home to salute at massive odds of $49.20 in the CFMEU/West Tradies Plate (1100 metres) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Olive had already booked a trip to Melbourne for Derby Day, but celebrated like he was there in Sydney.
He said he was leaning towards giving Single Gaze a spell, but would see how she pulled up following her impressive win.
It was her first run, following a barrier trial in Canberra a week earlier.
"I created a bit of a commotion here in the middle of the betting ring at Flemington, jumping around, cheering, dancing, high-fiving," Olive said.
"We thought she was going very well, but we didn't know where she fitted in - different form lines coming into the race. I thought it was a very good win, though."
It was a tough win that looked highly improbable with just 200 metres to go.
John O'Shea's Exosphere went straight to the front from the barriers and set a strong early pace, with Single Gaze back second-last going into the home straight.
Olive thought he might sneak a place, but then jockey Kathy O'Hara weaved her way through the traffic to time her run beautifully and swoop home by a length from Zulu Royal, with Counterattack third.
"At the 200 metres I thought we were going to run a nice third or fourth - at the 100 metres though, I was pretty confident we were going to win the race," he said.
"We've just got to sit down and see how she pulls up, she's a very tough filly, very professional, but she's paid up for the Magic Millions, so that's where we want to head with her in January."
