The disappointment of losing Cool Archie as a Magic Millions 2YO Classic chance for Chris and Corey Munce has been somewhat softened by Zip Lock’s win in a reliable lead-up at Eagle Farm.
Zip Lock was rated an $11 chance for the $3 million 1200-metre feature on January 17 but has firmed into $7 after winning the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m).
After winning on debut in November then being freshened before this start six weeks later, Zip Lock ($3.20) beat home race fancy Tornado Valley ($1.80F) who settled slightly worse than midfield and had to race three-wide for most of the trip.
“Credit to the horse after that freshen-up,” Chris Munce said.
“He had the trial the other day and he improved enormously off it. I guess we head to the Millions now.
“I said to owners that I wasn’t going to put a lot of emphasis on the Magic Millions because I had a lot of time for him.
“I thought he was going to be a winter two-year-old and a lovely three-year-old.”
The Melbourne Cup-winning jockey-turned trainer said it was a worthwhile win for jockey Justin Huxtable.
“I think this was good for Justin,” Munce said.
“He’s been with our stable for a long time and he is a tall lad and he doesn’t ride too many bad ones.”
The Munce team purchased Zip Lock for $160,000 at the 2025 Gold Coast Yearling Sale and the colt will be out to follow Coolangatta in 2021 and Storm Boy in 2023 who won this race before saluting in the Magic Millions feature at Gold Coast a few weeks later.
Tornado Valley eased for the 2026 version from $6 out to $9 after this defeat while the Bjorn Baker-trained Warwoven maintains favouritism at $3.
