McLachlan to enhance Magic Millions claims

Friday 20 December 2013, 2:56pm

Trainer Jason McLachlan is becoming more confident by the day he can win the two biggest Magic Millions races.

Smart filly Enquare is one of the early favourites for the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas and McLachlan also has high hopes for Divine Service in the $2 million Magic Millions Classic.

Divine Service will have his second start in the Racing Retro Handicap (1110m) at Doomben on Saturday and he is the early favourite to keep an unbeaten record.

He is quoted at $17 to win Magic Millions.

"We knew we had a nice horse but we were really thinking about him later as 1400-metre or 1600-metre type," McLachlan said.

"But he has gone along well and we will put blinkers on him for Saturday's run," he said.

Divine Service caused one of the biggest surprises of the Brisbane racing season when he won his first outing, starting at $51, on November 23.

The form has been confirmed with the runner-up Soho Ruby since running well in a Listed race.

Divine Service is equal 12th in the order of qualifiers for the Magic Millions and a placing on Saturday should assure a start.

McLachlan said Divine Service had always shown ability from the day he came into the stable but had been immature.

He said if Divine Service ran well on Saturday he would go straight into the Magic Millions.

"But if he doesn't go well we wouldn't push on. There would be other things for him later," he said.

Magic Millions day has been kind to McLachlan.

He was co-trainer with his late father Bruce McLachlan when Phelan Ready won the Magic Millions Classic in 2009 and backed it up with victory in the Golden Slipper.

McLachlan also trained Saluter to win Magic Millions Guineas earlier this year.

He will also saddle up Phelan Ready in the Listed $175,000 Lough Neagh Stakes at Doomben.

Phelan Ready has not won a race since the Golden Slipper but McLachlan is pleased with the way he has been racing.

"I sometimes wish he could talk, I'm sure he wants to tell me something. But at least he is starting to get down in the weights so who knows?" McLachlan said.

– AAP

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