The BJ McLachlan Stakes is always a key lead-up race to the Magic Millions Classic and that is set to be the case again in 2018.
There is plenty of hype surrounding debutant Just Zerene and she will start this race as a dominant favourite, but she has to deliver on raceday and there is plenty of talent in this field.
Will Just Zerene made a winning start to her racing career or will there be a Magic Millions Classic upset?
We have analysed the field and our complete 2018 BJ McLachlan Stakes tips can be found below.
Sun City
Sun City has raced well without winning during his racing career to date. He chased home Magic Millions Classic favourite Unite And Conquer on debut in the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington and was only narrowly denied by The Odyssey in Phelan Ready Stakes. You can’t knock any of his efforts, but I’m not sure that he has as much upside as some of the other horses in this field.
Krameric
Krameric is the value in the BJ McLachlan Stakes field. He was poor first-up at Rosehill Gardens, but his effort in the Phelan Ready Stakes was better than it looks on paper. He did a fair bit wrong in the run, but he showed a nice turn-of-foot in the concluding stages and I do think that he is a horse with upside. Robbie Fradd will be able to settle him just behind the speed and he can produce a better effort than his current odds suggest.
Wowsers
Wowsers made his racing debut with a dominant victory at the Sunshine Coast. He showed plenty of early speed in that contest and he clearly does have some ability, but this contest is a genuine step-up in class.
Eleven Eleven
Eleven Eleven impressed at the trials, but he was beaten as favourite when he made his racing debut in the Sizzling Plate. That was a fairly flat performance and the field that he faces in this contest is tougher. It is tough to back him off that effort.
Rome
Rome is a horse with upside and it is no surprise that he has been supported in early betting. He got a long way back in the Breeders’ Plate, but showed a strong turn-of-foot to finish fourth. He has trialled nicely since his racing debut and Team Snowden do have an excellent record in these two-year-old races. It would not surprise if Rome was a serious horse and he is worth a gamble at the current price of $8.
Lubuk
Lubuk is another horse that comes out of the Phelan Ready Stakes. He is another horse that did plenty wrong and should take good experience from that run. The wide barrier draw isn’t ideal, but I think that he is a better chance than his current odds of $26 suggests.
Coursehewill
Coursehewill started her racing career with two straight wins, but she was sounded beaten in the Calaway Gal at Doomben last start. It is tough to back her in this contest off that performance.
Mishani Spirit
Mishani Spirit has recorded two impressive wins from as many starts and she never looked like losing at the Gold Coast last start. The question is whether she can reproduce that form over 1200 metres and that is a genuine query. She should have the speed to cross this field from the wide draw, but she will need to work early and that could leave her vulnerable late.
Gala Miss
Gala Miss finished a credible fourth in the Calaway Gal, but I’m not convinced about the overall strength of that race and I am keen to take that form line on going forward.
Boomstress
Boomstress also comes out of the Calaway Gal and found the line bravely after doing plenty of work in the early stages. I think that she may have more upside than the majority of the horses that have come out of that race, but this is a tough assignment.
Devine Factor
Devine Factor is on the quick back-up after she gave Dubious a serious race at Eagle Farm last Saturday. The fact that she gave Dubious a scare suggests that she does have talent and she should take good improvement from her maiden race start. She is one of the leading contenders.
Vinrose
Vinrose produced a fairly flat effort in the Calaway Gal and looks a touch one-paced. She is one of the outsiders for a reason.
Regal Romance
Regal Romance was outclassed on debut in the Sizzling Plate and she was beaten in a much weaker race than this at the Gold Coast last start. She will start at very long odds.
Just Zerene
Just Zerene is the x-factor in this field. Trainer Tony McEvoy has supposedly said that she is a better two-year-old than last year’s Magic Millions Classic winner Sunlight and there was an avalanche of money for her last Saturday. She missed out on a start in that field, but punters had shown their hand and it is no doubt that she has done something to impress somebody. You simply must respect McEvoy with two-year-old horses and there is every possible chance that he has found a new star.