Victorians ramp up attack

THE in-form Ciaron Maher/ David Eustace training partnership can assure itself a third Magic Millions 2YO Classic runner with Amish Boy at Eagle Farm.

Amish Boy is one of 18 entries for Saturday’s Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m), a race which is a last chance for several horses to qualify for the Classic.

The McLachlan is usually a good guide to the Magic Millions with Gold Coast filly Military Rose (2010) and Unencumbered (2014) completing the double in the past decade.

The Maher/Eustace partnership is having a good twoyear-old season and has already qualified Rathlin and Away Game for the Classic at the Gold Coast on January 11.

Another of the Victorianbased stable’s juveniles, Anders,

was third at Eagle Farm on Saturday but will need more prizemoney to make the Millions field.

He is also nominated for the McLachlan.

Amish Boy was third on debut in the Ballarat Magic Millions Clockwise Classic last month which gave him $22,500 prizemoney. He has since run third in a Rosehill barrier trial.

If Amish Boy can finish in the top two in the McLachlan it will get him into the race and third will put him on the cusp of gaining a start in the 16-horse field.

Amish Boy, a $300,000 yearling, is a half-brother to smart Brisbane sprinter Hollabeck Girl.

The Sunshine Coast-based John Symons/Sheila Laxon training partnership is hoping for its first Magic Millions Classic runner with last Wednesday’s impressive winner Thunder Mania.

The gelding has $19,800 prizemoney and will need a top two finish in the McLachlan to qualify for the race.

The Snitzel gelding has also been entered for the Future Champions series in the winter and that will be his target if he fails to make the Millions field.

The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Aim, a smart winner at Randwick last Saturday, is the $6 favourite in Ladbrokes’ market for the Classic ahead of Farnan ($6.50).