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By Ray Hickson

There’s a sense of unfinished business with the Golden Slipper that could sway co-trainer Tony McEvoy to target the world’s richest two-year-old race after Xtravagant Star’s dominant win in the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) on Saturday.

Trainer Tony McEvoy (Pic: Steve Hart).

McEvoy, who co-trains with son Calvin, has finished second with Oohood and third with Sunlight, both behind Estijaab in 2018, in the signature two-year-old race but said it will be up to the owners to decide between the $5 million Longines Golden Slipper and the Blue Diamond in Melbourne.

“Now we can think about what to do, I don’t think we will be greedy. We’ll target one or the other,’’ McEvoy said.

“You guys accept us so well and welcome us so well in Sydney so I’d like to come back for (the Slipper). It is the big race.

“As the coach I’ve got a beautiful filly that can go wherever we want to take her. She’s sound and what I’ve learned about her in the last week is how accepting she is of everything.”

The Millennium was a triumph, and a very important win, for jockey Chad Schofield who recently returned from seven years in Hong Kong to base himself in Sydney and break into the toughest jockeys room in the nation, if not the world.

Schofield revealed he was handed the ride on Xtravagant Star through a close relationship with ‘best mate’ Calvin McEvoy who was a groomsman at Schofield’s wedding.

“I’ve been away for so long so I’m starting to build support from the bottom. Thankfully Tony and Calvin gave me this opportunity and it’s a nice win,’’ he said.

“I left Sydney when I was 17 then I went to Melbourne and Hong Kong, I’ve started from the bottom but hopefully I can get going again.

“It’s nice to win a feature race like this and hopefully it can help me build momentum going forward.”

Xtravagant Star ($7) tracked the leaders to the home turn and when Schofield asked for the effort she sprinted away and held favourite Paris Dior ($3.30) by 1-3/4 lengths with Sejardan ($6) a fighting third a half head away after racing wide without cover throughout.

The filly firmed from $101 into $21 for the $5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) run at Rosehill on March 19.

“I think we just enjoy today and make some decisions in a few days,’’ McEvoy said.

“She has come a little bit out of left field. At home she’s solid but she’s not a ‘wow’ sort of horse and sometimes they’re the best but I am liking her more and more.

“She pinged the gate and Chad thought she’d lead but he was a bit nervous there was going to be too much pressure so he was just very quiet.

“She didn’t really want to come back, she threw her head at one stage but then she accepted it. She is a quality, quality filly.”

Xtravagant Star wins the Inglis Millennium at Randwick

The riders of both placegetters were a little surprised with the pace so James McDonald and Jason Collett said their respective mounts Paris Dior and Sejardan performed admirably.

“Super run. Had a lovely run in the race. They just went a little slow to get over the eventual winner but good run,’’ McDonald said.

Collett said being forced to sit wide wasn’t ideal but given the tempo wasn’t as strong as he thought it was the right move and enabled the colt to finish in the placings.

Gary Portelli plans to freshen Sejardan for the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) on March 5 then two weeks into the Golden Slipper for which he somehow drifted to $15 after a solid performance.

Check out the replays and results from Inglis Millennium day at Royal Randwick