A host of Magic Millions 2YO Classic hopefuls take to the Eagle Farm track this Saturday in a final bid to make the $2 million Gold Coast race via a win in the BJ McLachlan Stakes.
Jockey Damian Browne and trainer Chris Munce saddle-up Ours To Keep in the 2016 BJ McLachlan Stakes in Brisbane this weekend. Photo: Daniel Costello.
The lucrative Restricted Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) is one of the key Gold Coast Magic Millions races held in Queensland on January 14.
Of the two-year-olds heading towards the classic engaged in a lead-up Brisbane run this weekend in the $200,000 Group 3 Lilivale Stud B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) the shortest-priced in pre-field markets at Ladbrokes.com.au is Ours To Keep.
Trained by former champion hoop Chris Munce, Ours To Keep is rated a $10 Magic Millions Classic hope and firm in popularity with the punters with a Group 3 win on Saturday.
The Seidnazar colt has won his opening two career starts at Doomben including the Listed Phelan Ready Plate (1100m) on December 17.
He heads to Eagle Farm for the first time for the BJ McLachlan with top hoop Damian Browne continuing associations from a gun barrier two draw.
The inside alley in the sixteen starter BJ McLachlan Stakes field this summer belongs to the John O’Shea-trained Godolphin galloper Coorg who has just his second career start.
Robbie Fradd is down to ride the visiting Sydney-based Denman colt whose debut on December 10 produced a second to Chauffeur in a two-years-old handicap over 1100m at Rosehill Gardens.
Along with Ours To Keep another notable galloper heading towards a Gold Coast Magic Millions Classic start next month is Goodfella from the Sydney stables of Bjorn Baker.
The Snitzel colt took out his first win on December 16 at Canterbury on a Heavy (9) track and on Saturday has a wide barrier 11 draw to overcome with Jeff Lloyd jumping aboard.
Baker also has the firm favourite for the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) next month, the undefeated Written Tycoon colt Winning Rupert, running in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) one race earlier at Eagle Farm on the weekend.
Widely drawn in the BJ McLachlan Stakes out in gate 13 meanwhile is Kerrin McEvoy’s mount Tiara Star.
Toby Edmonds prepares the Gold Coast-trained Congrats filly and is hoping for a win on Saturday so she can head home for the Magic Millions Classic.
Tiara Star had two Brisbane starts in October before breaking her maiden status on December 21 at the Sunshine Coast with a runaway three and three-quarter length victory over 1000m thanks to the addition of blinkers.
“The blinkers got her going at the Sunshine Coast but I believe she is looking for 1200 metres now,” Edmonds told AAP this week.
“She broke 57 seconds for the 1000 metres at the Sunshine Coast and that is very good going.”
That midweek win saw the filly take her earnings up to $26,000, but the BJ McLachlan is her last chance to add to that and gain the Magic Millions run.
