Midnight In Tokyo ready to prove Show County form

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Todd Pollard is hoping the Show County form stacks up when talented mare Midnight In Tokyo heads back to Sydney on Saturday.

Midnight In Tokyo gave Pollard his biggest win in his short training career when the seven-year-old led all the way to defeat the Michael Freedman-trained Soothsayer in the Group 3 Show County at Randwick last month.

Pollard started training in February and has enjoyed a dream start, winning black-type races with Midnight In Tokyo in the Listed Hinkler and Group 3 Show County, as well as Zuleika in the Listed Tatt’s Gold Crown during the Queensland Racing Carnival.

He plans to accept with Midnight In Tokyo in the Sheraco Stakes, to be contested over 1200 metres, and the Group 2 Theo Marks over 1300 metres at Rosehill on Saturday, but favours running in the shorter sprint.

“It was a good, tough win in the Show County and she’s bounced out of the race well,” Pollard said.

“Soothsayer ran second to us that day and he came out next start and was just beaten in the (Group 2) Tramway at Randwick last Saturday.

“I couldn’t be happier with the way my mare is going and hopefully the form line stacks up.

“She likes to race on the speed, so Rosehill should suit her.”

Pollard made the decision to return home to Brisbane with Midnight In Tokyo after her Show County victory instead of keeping the daughter of Kobayashi in Sydney for her next spring assignment.

“It was three weeks between runs and she’s not the easiest of horses to deal with,” Pollard said.

“I just wanted to keep a close eye on her, so it was best to bring her home.

“I wouldn’t like to do it too often, especially in the hotter months, but it’s an easy trip down the highway to Sydney.”

Pollard has signalled Midnight In Tokyo could target the Group 3 Nivison over 1200 metres at Randwick next month before aiming for the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival. 

“The Nivison is a way off yet, so we’ll see how she goes in Sydney this week before making any decisions,” he said.

“But, she’ll definitely target the summer races in Queensland.”

Midnight In Tokyo – a Ben Thompson mount – is not a Magic Millions graduate, but Pollard hopes to be there on the big day in January.

“She’s not a Magic Millions mare, but she can still get into the fillies and mares race on Magic Millions day if she can win a wildcard,” he said.

The Listed Nudgee Stakes over 1200 metres at Eagle Farm in January is the race Pollard has in mind to claim a golden ticket for Magic Millions day at the Gold Coast.