The race to the Magic Millions next month reaches fever pitch at Doomben this Saturday with three of the leading contenders for the Gold Coast feature, facing off in this Saturday’s B. J. McLachlan Stakes at Doomben. Echo Gal, Oakleigh Girl and Unencumbered lead the way in pre-post betting for Magic Millions race and therefore not surprisingly, do so here as well. Echo Gal will be out to emulate the feats of stable-mate Driefontein who won this race last year prior to winning the Magic Millions.
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BJ McLachlan Stakes Form Guide
1. UNENCUMBERED – N Berry (1)
The Testa Rossa colt made it three wins from four starts with an impressive victory just over a week ago in the Wyong MM 2yo Classic (1100m). He was given time early in the race before taking up a position right behind the leaders rounding the turn. When the run came, the Bjorn Baker runner extended well and won comfortably in the end by a length over Geromayo and Sheer Style. Strong win last start and the extra 100m will suit. May need some luck from the inside gate but that’d be the only worry. Big chance.
2. BASSILLIQUE – T Bell (8)
He made his debut for Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds in the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes a fortnight ago. The colt by I Am Invincible settled in the second half of the field but appreciated the strong tempo up front to close well and record a length win over fellow debutante Goluana. Connections could not have asked for me in a debut run and would expect further natural improvement to come after having had his first race start.
3. PINCH RIVER – D Browne (7)
Rob Heathcote’s Denman gelding shared the honours on debut in an Eagle Farm 2yo Open race (1000m) after the judge couldn’t split he and Our Rock O’reilly. Pinch River made sure victory was his alone at his only start since with an emphatic six length win over the same track and distance back in November as the 4/5 on favourite. Has lead in each of his starts and drawn awkwardly if he wishes to do the same again here.
4. ELJETEM – J Byrne (3)
Came from an impossible position on debut when from near last, he made up a stack of ground on a heavy track to run second to Celestial Dragon in a 2yo handicap over 1110m. The Jet Spur colt then again settled well back in the field at his next and most recent start and on a firmer surface, did not close as well when fourth (5.6 lengths) behind Bassillique in the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes. Will be given them most a start judging by his first two races and hard to see him running a few of his opponents down here.
5. OAKLEIGH GIRL – C Newitt (6)
After piloting this impeccably bred filly to her debut in the G3 7news Stakes (1000m) on Melbourne Cup Day, Victorian jockey Craig Newitt will be reunited with Danny Bougoure’s daughter of Snitzel. Her only run since her debut victory was in last fortnight’s Listed Calaway Gal Stakes, a 2yo race for fillies. Starting 2/1 on, she jumped to the lead and did what she had to do in recording a length win over Ambitious Blonde. Bougoure said the run would be of benefit to her and would expect that effort to have topped her off nicely for this.
6. STROAK – M Cahill (4)
Another unbeaten filly, this daughter of Magic Millions winner Real Saga won by a handsome 1 ¾ on debut in a Doomben 2yo race (1020m) back in October before a brief let-up of eight weeks. She returned for trainer Bryan Guy as the 10/9 on favourite and after camping on the speed, recorded another strong 1 ¼ length win, this time over 1200m. Drawn to get a similar run as her previous starts and each of those efforts suggest that whilst she is taking on a better class of competitor, she’s not without some hope of claiming a place.
7. TOTALLY SURE – R McMahon (2)
Started 11/8 favourite on debut back in October and went within a whisker of claiming a 1010m Doomben 2yo race before, at her next start again at Doomben (1110m), the Not A Single Doubt filly rewarded those who took the even short price of 4/15 on, recording a length win. She was then given a break by trainer Kelly Schweida of eight weeks and returned with an honest fourth (2.4 lengths) behind Oakleigh Girl in the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes. Drawn well, fitter again however, so will be Oakleigh Girl and hard to see her turning the tables on her here.
8. ECHO GAL – C Munce (9)
Their has always been a wrap on this Stratum filly and, after her 4 ¼ length barrier trail win, the expectations grew bigger again so, when she made her debut at Warwick Farm just shy of three weeks ago, it was no surprise to see her sent out the 8/15 on favourite. She sat outside of the leader and helped set a solid tempo for the 1000m event but still had plenty in the final furlongs, winning comfortably by 3 ¾ lengths over I Am Snippety. She looked to do all on natural ability and the experience of a race-day and now a trip north, will be of a huge benefit to her. Draw is of some concern but did show enough gate-speed on debut that she should be able to overcome that obstacle.
9. FREEZETHEMILLIONS – G Colless (10)
Matt Dunn trains this daughter of Freeze who, after scoring a 1 ¾ length win in an 850m scamper on the Sunshine Coast when making her debut, took on the better fillies in the Calaway Gal Stakes at her next and most recent start. From a wide gate she settled near the rear of the field but did well in the run home, in a race dominated by the leading pair, to finish fifth (3.9 lengths) from Oakleigh Girl. Unfortunately for connections, she has fared no better at the barrier draw for this race and will face a big task.
10. SAGATONA – R Thompson (5)
The Real Saga filly made up significant ground on debut when running third (1 length) behind Celestial Dragon and Eljetem. At her only start since, she drew the second to widest gate in a field of fourteen and had no choice but to drop back to near last over the 1110m trip. Again, the Liam Birchley trained runner made good ground late and finished fourth (2.2 lengths), again to Celestial Dragon. Might try and take up a better position here just behind the speed and represents a legitimate place chance.
RACE OVERVIEW
Echo Gal ($3.30) will shoot over and try for the lead. Munce and Waterhouse usually combine successfully and given that she’ll likely be better again for having had the one race start, they’ll have to be smart to catch Echo Gal. Unencumbered ($5.00) just might be though. The colt has not put a foot wrong in four starts and always had the 2yo MM Classic at his mercy last start. He was strong through the line and if Nathan Berry can navigate a clear passage from the inside gate, he’ll be finishing hard here. Oakleigh Girl has led in each of her races and from six, with the race for the leading position to be a hotly contested one it’ll be interesting to see how heavily she’s involved for it. She may be better again with a sit and has opened up the favourite of the leading trio at $2.70.
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- UNENCUMBERED
- OAKLEIGH GIRL
- ECHO GAL
