Jason McLachlan achieved something his late father Bruce couldn’t by winning the Magic Millions Guineas with Saluter.
Bruce McLachlan won the Magic Millions Classic three times during his illustrious career but had never trained a winner of the Guineas.
It was left to Jason to win the Guineas with Saluter and his first thoughts after the race were for his father who died soon after Phelan Ready’s Golden Slipper win in 2009.
“I hope Dad is watching because this is a race he always wanted to win so I’ve been able to do it for him,” McLachlan said.
“He was beaten a nose one year with Picaday and it’s a very special feeling to win this race.
“He’d be giving one bit of advice – `son have a good night’.”
McLachlan was confident Saluter ($15) would be competitive in the Guineas despite the presence of Sizzling and the Gai Waterhouse-trained Driefontein and No Looking Back.
“Nobody seemed to give him a look in but he hasn’t a lot of luck in his races and the only times he’s run poorly were on wet tracks,” he said.
Jockey Damian Browne said Saluter travelled comfortably despite being forced to cover ground from his wide barrier before settling outside Driefontein.
The colt overhauled Driefontein in the final stages and withstood a late lunge from the favourite Sizzling ($3) to win by a short neck.
“I was hoping to trail the Gai Waterhouse runners but it didn’t quite work out the way I’d hoped so I just let him get into rhythm where he was happy,” he said.
“It was a real struggle in the straight but he toughed it out really well.”
Craig Williams said Sizzling was brave in defeat after striking interference mid race.
“He copped a prat near the 600m metres which might’ve been the difference between winning and losing considering the margin was so small,” he said.
