Expensive 2YO’s Aim Up at Millions

Tara Madgwick - Thursday December 27
The Group III BRC BJ MCLachlan Stakes in Brisbane on Saturday is likely to shed light on the $2million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with the race featuring much hyped first starter Just Zerene, an $800,000 Magic Millions purchase that has been heavily backed to win the big one at the Gold Coast next month.

Trained by Tony McEvoy, who prepared Zoustar's outstanding daughter Sunlight to win the race in 2018, Just Zerene has impressed her trainer despite having no public barrier trials to date.

Just Zerene was the most expensive yearling by Zoustar sold at the Gold Coast in 2018McEvoy is expecting a good showing from Just Zerene, but believes there should not be such a huge price discrepancy between Just Zerene and her stablemate Sun City in betting markets on Saturday – in fact he believes Sun City (also by Zoustar) should be the shorter of the pair.

"Just Zerene was the standout filly of the (Magic Millions) sale and clearly she is a very, very nice filly," McEvoy told Racenet.

"But it's not my money that has backed her in – I don't bet, I'm not sure who has backed her.

"She will have to be very good indeed to win on Saturday because very few horses win a Group race in their first start in their lives.

"I wanted to run her last week but she didn't get a start so we have to play the cards we are dealt.

"But mark my words, Sun City will run a much, much better race on Saturday.

"The thing people have got to remember about Sun City, before they dismiss him, is that he has made mistakes in both his races and still finished second.

"Normally if a young horse makes mistakes like he has been, they would probably run seventh or eighth.

"Absolutely, my two horses should be much closer together in the betting on Saturday.

"In fact, I would probably have Sun City ahead of Just Zerene – he is fitter than her and more experienced than her."

Just Zerene was bought by China Horse Club from the Widden Stud draft and was the most expensive yearling by Zoustar sold at the Gold Coast in 2018.

She is a half-sister to multiple Group III winner Sharnee Rose and is from well bred Jeune (GB) winner Farasha, who comes from the Asawir branch of the Easy Date family featuring Group I winners Rewaaya, Ertijaal and Sense of Occasion.

Rome was a $1,050,000 purchase for James Harron BloodstockJust Zerene is not the most expensive runner in this race with that honour going to the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Pierro colt Rome, who was bought by James Harron Bloodstock from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft for $1,050,000.

Rome was fourth at his only start so far in the Group III ATC Breeder Plate won by Dubious and hit the line with plenty in hand when finishing second in a recent barrier trial at Randwick. Brett Prebble has the ride on Rome and he jumps from gate one.

Bhima Thoroughbreds will be hoping Rome can arrive home first as they will offer his yearling half-sister at MM 2019 as Lot 495


The Deep Field filly (pictured below) is the second living foal of Dance Card, a three-quarter sister by Exceed and Excel to Group III winner Kaepernick.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Written Tycoon Filly Captures Denise’s Joy Stakes
Starting as one of the outsiders in the 15 strong Listed Coolmore Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) at Scone on Saturday, the Chris Waller trained Written Tycoon filly Summer Flame continued her solid form to record her first black type victory for owners Rosemont Stud.
Zoustar Heads Roster at Tweenhills Stud
Exciting Australian sire Zoustar will head the roster at Tweenhills Stud in Gloucestershire next year when he makes his second shuttle trip from Widden Stud to the northern hemisphere.
G3 Win for Sunlight Sister
Stakes-placed earlier this year in Adelaide, three year-old Zoustar filly Sisstar has taken a little longer to hit winning form than her famous older sister Sunlight, but she claimed a valuable Black Type success at Flemington on Oaks Day when leading all the way to win the Group III VRC Red Roses Stakes (1100m).
Kiwi Bred Basilinna Books Melbourne Cup ticket
Emma-Lee and David Browne’s victory in the A$300,000 Listed Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday was enormously valuable in more ways than one for the Kiwi couple.
Local Victory As Melody Again Wins Dark Jewel Classic
The final group race of the two-day Scone Cup carnival was a case of needing to see it, to believe it as Scott Singleton’s locally trained mare Melody Again came from last to win the $250,000 Group 3 Arrowfield Dark Jewel Classic (1400m).
Russian Revolution Rare Stakes Trifecta
It is a very rare occurrence for a stallion to provide the trifecta in any race, let a lone a stakes race, but it happened at Scone on Saturday when The Instructor led home a trifecta for his sire Russian Revolution in the $200,000 Listed Luskin Star Stakes (1300m).
Ultimate Gear Changes - Caballus Returns to Form with Stakes Victory
A four year-old son of I Am Invincible, Caballus has never lacked for talent, however his path has not been smooth since selling for $1million as a yearling back in 2022.
Proven Formula For In Flight’s Stakes Success
Kerrie Tibbey’s Goodwood Farm often send a small, but select draft to the Magic Millions Adelaide yearling sale, and Saturday’s Listed Magic Millions Bright Shadow Stakes winner In Flight (Flying Artie) joins $11.9m earner Private Eye as another graduate of the farm purchased by the very same connections at the Adelaide sale.
Coolmore Secure $500,000 Zoustar Colt
Some people may have wondered at Coolmore’s Tom Magnier paying $500,000 for a Zoustar colt early in the sale at Magic Millions on Wednesday, but when you hear what his breeder John North of Bowness Stud has to say about him you can see why this colt is seen as having serious potential.
Zoustar Filly Spoils the Party at the Gold Coast
The Toby and Trent Edmonds-trained Queen Kay defeated her better-fancied stablemate Smart 'N' Sexy in Saturday’s $125,000 Aquis Gold Pearl Quality at the Gold Coast, which was not just a blow to punters but looks to have cost the runner-up a spot in next week’s Magic Millions 2yo Classic.