The Group III BRC BJ McLachlan Stakes (1200m) has proven a key lead up for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic with recent winners Storm Boy and Coolangatta both going on to success at the Gold Coast with the race on Saturday won by unbeaten Hellbent colt Zip Lock.
The Ciaron Maher trained Tornado Valley was sent out as favourite off the strength of his last start win in the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate, but a wide gate was always going to make his task a little tougher.
He was taken back at the start by Ethan Brown and found himself in a position with just too much to do as the Chris and Corey Munce trained Zip Lock let loose with a brilliant turn of foot for Justin Huxtable.
A winner on debut over 1200m back in November, Zip Lock was strong all the way to the line with a length and a half to spare over Tornado Valley at the post with Cool Aza Beel filly Leaves of Lorien snatching third.
A $160,000 Magic Millions purchase for Munce Racing/Arthur Hoyeau As Agent from the Yarraman Park draft, Zip Lock has won over $220,000 and assuming he pulls up well will take his place in the $3million Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 17.
“He has that little bit of class about him. I think today was good and it was good for Justin. He's been with our stable a long time. He's a tall lad, puts in a lot of work, and he doesn't ride too many bad ones, so it’s nice to be able to give him a ride like this,” said Chris Munce.
“All credit to the horse too— he had that freshen up, then one soft little trial the other day and he improved enormously off it. So obviously now we probably head to the Millions.
“I never really put emphasis on the Magic Millions for him as I had a lot of time for him as I think he's going to make a lovely three-year-old.
“It ( Magic Millions 2YO) was never going to be the be all and end all, but look, obviously now, the way he went… and he's thriving in the stable, so of course we’ll head there.
“He's a big strong horse and I think he’ll get to seven furlongs or a mile later on as he matures. He's a beautiful animal.”
Foaled and raised at Yarraman, Zip Lock is the first stakes-winner among three winners from three foals to race from Honolulu Lass, a winning half-sister by Hinchinbrook to Group III winner Debellatio and stakes-winner Devoirs from Group II winner Velasco.
Honolulu Lass passed away at the start of this year and her final foal is a yearling colt by Brave Smash (Jpn) that will be offered in the Yarraman Park draft as Lot 69 at Inglis Classic.
Zip Lock is the tenth stakes-winner for Yarraman Park's Hellbent, who has 21 entries for Magic Millions 2026.
