Connections of Epaumada will need to do some quick thinking after the daughter of Epaulette kept her unbeaten record intact following a dominant performance in Saturday's QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
A first-up winner at Gatton on January 8, the Tony Gollan-trained filly is qualified for the Karaka Million, to be run at Ellerslie on January 26.
But connections will not have much time to mull over a trip to New Zealand. In what Gollan has described as a 'logistical nightmare', Epaumada will need to be on a plane to Sydney by Monday night.
Despite being easy in betting, Epaumada never looked likely to be beaten, finishing a length and a half ahead of the Dissident colt Bigboyroy with the Better Than Ready colt Arnwood a further one and a quarter lengths back in third. (photo Racing Queensland).
"She didn't surprise me, she is a very talented filly, the only thing that surprised me was the betting drift," Gollan said.
"The next 24 hours will tell the tale. She is a Karaka Millions filly and that race is next week. Logistically it's a bit tricky because we would have to fly out of Sydney tomorrow night so it makes things a bit hard, but we'll see how she comes out of this and we will work out if we put her on the plane for New Zealand.
"We bought her specifically to target that race. I got a little bit behind with her due to a couple of little things, but she is well and truly on target now, so we have a few decisions to make in the next 24 hours."
Purchased by John Foote Bloodstock / Tony Gollan Racing for $165,000 out of the Monovale Farm draft at the 2018 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale, Epaumada is a three-quarter-sister to the Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes winner Bandipur.
They are out of the 3-time winner Pattamada, a daughter of Viscount, who is a sister to the Group 1 STC Queen Of The Turf Stakes winner Neroli.
Purchased by Monovale Farm off Godolphin for just $21,000 at the 2016 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Pattamada has a filly by Proisir (pictured) that will be in the Monovale draft at the upcoming NZB Premier Yearling Sale.
From the family of Riverina Charm and Benfica, Pattamada was covered in 2017 by Puccini.
