Four MM Lead Ups for Icarian Dream - what are the stats?

Breednet - Sunday December 22

Two-year-old filly Icarian Dream’s win in the B.J. McLachlan Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday will see her head in to the Magic Millions 2YO Classic having had four starts before year’s end, which might seem a lot in this day and age – but is it? We’ve had a look.

Icarian Dream. Image: bradleyphotos.com.au

The Blue Point filly trialled at the official Sydney two-year-old trials in September, winning her heat, and ultimately made a winning debut on October 16 in a midweek juvenile maiden, having been an acceptor for the Gimcrack Stakes earlier but scratched.

She has subsequently finished fourth in the Group III Golden Gift, second in a two-year-old handicap at Rosehill and now her win the Group III McLachlan.

That sees the Magic Millions 2YO Classic as her fifth start and she’ll be trying to emulate 2019 winner Exhilarates, a filly which also had four led up runs.

In the last 15 years there’s been 62 horses have four or more lead up runs. Only two have won, with 2014 Unencumbered the other, having had five.

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The most lead up efforts actually took place this year, in the 2024 running with two Mishani horses, Mishani Express having had seven previous, and Mishani Ego six.

They finished 10th and 1th respectively.

Here’s the horses with four or more lead ups. And below that the number of lead ups for the last 15 winners.

Year Horse Finish Runs Prior
2024 Mishani Express 10 7
2024 Mishani Ego 14 6
2022 Mishani Persuasion 14 5
2022 Mishani Warfare 5 5
2021 Mishani Scandal 15 5
2019 Betaima 15 5
2019 Sebrakate 9 5
2017 Goodfella 4 5
2016 Rainy Day Woman 12 5
2014 Unencumbered 1 5
2013 Architect 8 5
2013 Choose A Saga 5 5
2012 Travino 12 5
2012 Snipzu 9 5
2011 Zed Man 10 5
2010 Tough Luck 8 5
2009 Fast Lover 11 5
2024 Arabian Summer 5 4
2024 Mishani Aloha 7 4
2024 Territory Ash 9 4
2024 Sheza Chiquitita 12 4
2024 Vianarra 11 4
2023 Infatuation 4 4
2023 She's A Rogue 13 4
2022 Sneaky Starter 7 4
2022 Thelwell 11 4
2022 Perfect Mission 4 4
2022 Snitcat 3 4
2022 Heroic Son 10 4
2021 Mura Mura 13 4
2021 Baby Wong 8 4
2021 You'll Be Mist 14 4
2019 Courseshewill 8 4
2019 Exhilarates 1 4
2019 The Odyssey 12 4
2017 Real Princess 8 4
2017 Saxton Rock 15 4
2016 Punishing 14 4
2015 Wicked Intent 6 4
2015 Miss Idyllic 16 4
2015 Frequendly 12 4
2014 Ruby Soho 3 4
2014 Totally Sure 12 4
2014 Sheer Style 14 4
2013 Gracious Prospect 7 4
2013 Greytfilly 9 4
2013 Missy Longstocking 3 4
2012 Little Critter 15 4
2012 Lady Colours 10 4
2011 Double Impact 8 4
2011 Playtime 12 4
2011 Five O'clock 7 4
2011 Internal Revenue 16 4
2011 Racing Stripes 15 4
2011 Merryanna 9 4
2011 Flammable 13 4
2010 Jantzen 6 4
2010 Mundi Gully 7 4
2010 Ebony Rock 4 4
2010 Marking Time 12 4
2009 Paprika 2 4
2009 Fairchild 8 4

Winners Lead Ups

Year Winner Runs Prior
2024 Storm Boy 2
2023 Skirt The Law 2
2022 Coolangatta 2
2021 Shaquero 3
2020 Away Game 2
2019 Exhilarates 4
2018 Sunlight 3
2017 Houtzen 2
2016 Capitalist 2
2015 Le Chef 3
2014 Unencumbered 5
2013 Real Surreal 3
2012 Driefontein 2
2011 Karuta Queen 3
2010 Military Rose 3
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