Tony Gollan believes history is on his side as Itchintogo backs up into the Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast.
The seven-day backup has proven an effective path into the $3 million feature, with six of the past 15 winners following the same pattern.
Itchintogo, bought for $60,000 at the 2025 Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, stamped his credentials with a commanding 4.6-length win in last week’s Gold Nugget.
“I’m really happy with him. It was always the plan, the seven-day backup,” Gollan said.
“When he won the Phelan Ready, I just thought he did a bit wrong that day and I wanted to take my time with him and get him back and get him to that race last Saturday, to back up into this.
“It’s been a great formula. Arguably, over the last 15 years, it’s the best formula. So many horses have done the seven-day backup.
“A lot of horses have done it because they had to to get into the race. I’ve done it by design – I remember when Tony McEvoy with Sunlight, he did it by design.”
Gollan claimed the Magic Millions Classic in 2023 with Skirt The Law, but said this preparation required more seasoning.
“I just felt I had to off that win in the Phelan Ready, he just did a bit wrong,” Gollan said.
“I was a bit nervous going to 1200 (metres) at Eagle Farm (in the B J McLachlan) with him if he was going to do things wrong. Last week, he didn’t leave out any concerns for me.
“He was always precocious, up and going.
“The horses that get to this race, the ones I’ve had in the previous years, they’ve just kept improving into the race and he’s on that same trajectory.”
Barrier 11 awaits Itchintogo with Ryan Maloney engaged, and Gollan said the colt would be ridden with intent.
“It’s tricky. I mean, I would rather draw one, but he’s got good gate speed, he’ll put himself on pace,” Gollan said.
“I find the pace of the race a little bit hard to assess this year.
“Most of these horses have taken a trail, ridden with cover, and have a turn of foot, so I’ll be bouncing out and trying to leave out my barrier quickly.”
Punters can track the evolving market through major online bookmakers ahead of Saturday’s feature.
Itchintogo is quoted at $15 in the Classic, with unbeaten Warwoven the dominant $1.80 favourite.
The post Tony Gollan’s two-year-old Itching To Go first appeared on Just Horse Racing.
