‘He has that little bit of class about him’ – Trip to the Gold Coast awaits Zip Lock after dominant B.J. McLachlan victory
Zip Lock (Hellbent) will bid to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Storm Boy (Justify), Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) and Unencumbered (Testa Rossa) by landing next month’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) following a rousing success in Saturday’s B.J. McLachlan Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Eagle Farm.
The Chris and Corey Munce-trained colt stretched his unbeaten tally to two with success in the Group 3 feature, a race that has become a key trial for January’s $3 million Restricted Listed contest.
Having shown plenty of promise prior to his debut with a runner-up finish in an 850-metre trial at Doomben on November 6, Zip Lock then took to the track for the first time on race day when downing subsequent Phelan Ready 2YO (Listed, 1110m) scorer Itchintogo (Sun City) by 1.6 lengths back at Doomben over 1200 metres.
Another tick-over trial came on December 15, before the son of Hellbent (I Am Invincible) lined up in Saturday’s feature as a $3.25 second-elect behind November’s Maribyrnong Plate (Gr 3, 1000m) winner Tornado Valley (Too Darn Hot) ($1.80).
Ridden by Justin Huxtable for the first time, Zip Lock travelled well into the home straight and, having moved up on the outer of his rivals with 400 metres to go, shot to the front with 300 metres left to run.
Kept up to his work by Huxtable and the chasing Ciaron Maher-trained Tornado Valley, the colt was always holding the gallant runner-up and again scored by a 1.6–length margin.
There was a further 1.9 lengths back to $101 chance Leaves Of Lorien (Cool Aza Beel) in third place.
“He has that little bit of class about him,” Chris Munce said. “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.
“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 [Magic] Millions.”
Zip Lock now finds himself on the third line of betting for the 2YO Classic at $6, behind impressive debut Randwick winner Warwoven (Sword Of State) at $3.20 and Magic Millions The Debut 2YO (1000m) scorer Lumbini (Russian Revolution) who is at $4.40.
Munce revealed that next month’s contest had not been at the forefront of his mind for Zip Lock, and that his plan was to let the colt tell him whether to head for the Gold Coast.
“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,” the co-trainer added.
“It [Magic Millions 2YO Classic] 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 [1400m] or a mile later on as he matures. He’s a beautiful animal.”
Bred and raised at Yarraman Park, Zip Lock was a $160,000 purchase for Munce Racing and Arthur Hoyeau out of Yarraman’s 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
He is the best of three winners from as many foals out of the winning Hinchinbrook (Fastnet Rock) mare Honolulu Lass, herself a half-sister to Group 3 winner Debellatio (Smart Missile) and stakes winner Devoirs (Dehere) being out of the Group 2-winning mare Velasco (Flying Spur).
Honolulu Lass died at the start of this year and her final foal is a yearling colt by Brave Smash (Tosen Phantom) that will be offered by Yarraman Park as Lot 69 at Inglis Classic.
Zip Lock was providing Yarraman Park’s Hellbent with his tenth individual stakes winner. The son of I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) stood the 2025 breeding season at an unchanged fee of $38,500 (inc GST).