Tornado Valley, who currently tops the Magic Millions 2YO Classic Order Of Entry, will contest the BJ McLachlan Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday, where he will take another step closer to his aim of taking out the $3 million race at the Gold Coast on January 17.
The son of Too Darn Hot finished third in the Listed Debutant Stakes when having his first taste of race action at Caulfield over 1000m back on October 15, only going down by a length when coming home behind the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained quinella in the form of Torture (a boilover winner at $21) and Free Flying.
Three weeks later Tornado Valley stepped things up to Group 3 level, tackling the Maribrynong Stakes at Flemington, again over 1000m, a race in which he saluted by a 0,35 lengths margin from Tales Of Time and Luna Vega.
While it will be fifty-three days between runs when Tornado Alley faces the starter on Saturday, the Ciaron Maher camp has kept Tornado Valley ticking over with an 800m trail at Hawksbury on December 15, a trail which the colt duly won.
Etan Brown, who partnered Tornado Valley to his win, retains the ride … and he will have the responsibility of helping his mount negotiate a path from the widest barrier draw (ten out of ten). That will be a subtle but still new racing experience for the Maher trained runner who had the advantage of jumping from barriers one and two in his first two starts.
Tornado Valley is one of four last start winners in the ten-strong field.
Like Tornado Valley, the Bjorn Baker trained Paradoxium landed his first win in his second start with that important result coming in imperious fashion in the Magic Millions Wyong Two-Year-Old Classic over 1100m in which he slayed the opposition beating his closest rival home by 2.84 lengths.
A little over two months earlier Paradoxium had finished fourth on debut in the Group 3 Breeders’ Plate over 1000m.
On both occasions Paradoxium was ridden by Jason Collett who will again be in the saddle on Saturday, and he has again found favour with the barrier Gods. He will jump from barrier 3.
The other two last start winners in the B J McLachlan lineup both won on debut and therefore enter the race defending an unbeaten record, even if it is after only one start.
Zip Lock and Remembrall represent Queensland stables trying to repel the southern invaders.
The Chis and Corey Munce trained Zip Lock already has a win over the B J McLachlan track and distance to his credit which means he has already ticked two boxes that are still waiting to be ticked by both Tornado Valley and Paradoxium, who both have yet to race in Queensland and who have both yet to be tested over the 1200m distance.
That win came on October 15. Zip Lock has finished second (to Rememrall) in a trial since then.
Of some significance also is the fact that Zip Lock beat Itchintogo by 1.57 lengths when landing his debut win … and Itchintogo came out and franked that form in no uncertain terms by winning the Listed Phelan Ready in his next start.
Justin Huxtable takes over the reins from Martin Harley this time around on Zip Lock.
The Liam Birchley trained Remembrall scored on debut in emphatic fashion winning by 3.00 lengths over 1100 at Doomben, back on October 25.
He has not raced since then but did win a 1000m trial (beating Zip Lock) at Doomben on December 15.
Ben Thompson, who partnered Remembrall in his win and two trails to date, again takes the ride.
Of the other five runners with exposed form, Magritte has placed in all three starts, while Kickup Rocky and Fearless Win finished fourth in their respective only starts to date … and Leaves Of Lorien and Accordance both look like they might have to find a few lengths if they are to feature in the finish.
And that just leaves one … and one that should be handled with care at that.
A strong stable … that of Annabel and Rob Archibald … sends out Priority Park, a first-timer who has trialled twice, most recently when finishing second to the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Lady Moscato on December 18.
The fact that Ryan Maloney, the current leader of the Brisbane jockeys’ Premiership, has been booked for the ride could be significant and is a move well worth noting.
Priority Park is not wanted in the betting though … being quoted at $31. Still better to handle with care.
The betting is struggling to sort out a clear favourite with Paradoxium and Tornado Valley vying for that position at $2.30 and $2.50 respectively while Zip Lock ($7.50) and Remembrall ($9) are the other two runners quoted at odds of less than $15 with bookies.
