Chrysaor has all the right attributes for the BJ McLachlan Stakes
Chrysaor has all the attributes of a competitive Magic Millions horse ahead of the BJ McLachlan Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.
They are the thoughts of Star Thoroughbreds owner-director Denise Martin, who was impressed with the Chris-Waller-trained colt’s win in his last start also over the 1200m distance on the Sunshine Coast on November 19.
In his second start, the two-year-old son of former star Queensland stallion Better Than Ready won that race by a comfortable length.
With James Ormond on his back, the young sprinter jumped well and took just 100m to get into stride, before finishing strongly.
Under the eye of Waller’s stable foreman on the Gold Coast, Brett Killian, Martin believes Chrysaor is set for a repeat performance this weekend.
That could lock up a spot for him in the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast on January 14.
“He looks terrific. He trialed very well on the Sunshine Coast last week,” Martin told HorseBetting.com.au about her $12 chance according to betting sites.
“His regular rider Jimmy Ormond was really happy with him.
“I guess you don’t know how two-year-olds will shape up until they go up in grade and they’re competing at a higher level.
“With the babies they have to improve as they’re going up the ladder.
“But he looks as though he can. He does appear to be talented.
“At this time of the year, we’re thinking of the Magic Millions.”
As well as his good looks, Chrysaor has good pedigree.
“His mother (New Wings) is a full sister to a good horse that I bought some years ago as a yearling called Religify,” Martin said.
“He was a nice talent – he won 13 races and close to $900,000.
“So when we saw this colt at the Magic Millions, we thought he was a very well put-together individual.”
Chrysaor has the temperament to match his natural athletic attributes, which Martin noticed from the first time she laid eyes on him.
“He looked strong, and the only thing I said to the group working with me at the sales was ‘he looks so big and robust – I wonder if he’ll be gelded’,” she said of her sprinter with $26 odds across betting sites for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
“Well, so far so good, that’s a no.
“At the moment, he’s a very sensible colt. He’s very manageable.
“So I think we’ll know a lot more after Saturday.
“But if he’s competitive on Saturday – wins the race or fights out the finish – then he deserves to take his place in the Magic Millions field.”
Ormond – will be aboard Chrysaor for his third start on Saturday and has ridden him for his two career races – was impressed with his win on the Sunshine Coast.
“Jimmy was very upbeat about the win. He said he thought he’d be close to winning in his first start,” Martin said.
“He was just a bit new.
“But when he went to the Sunshine Coast, I think he relished that very long straight.
“Although the leader had skipped away, the jockey said he always felt he could pick up the leader well before the finishing post.
“And he was really strong to the line.”
Martin said master trainer Waller’s attention to detail to the horses he has under Killian’s care on the Gold Coast was first class.
“He talks to the foremen in Melbourne and on the Gold Coast everyday,” Martin said.
“He (Killian) has been with Chris for a number of years in Queensland, and does a fantastic job.
“(Waller) zoom calls them very regularly to look at the horses in their boxes.
“He discusses the work of his trainers because he has the same training programs at Rosehill and Warwick Farm as he does on the Gold Coast.
“That’s one of the reasons why those stables are immensely successful. He’s got great people operating them.”
Martin has had no shortage of success with her horses Waller has trained, most notably Group 1 winner Invincibella.
The brilliant short-distance mare saluted in three consecutive Magic Millions Fillies & Mares feature races from 2018 to 2020.
“We had a wonderful mare called Invincibella, who won three mares’ million dollar races in successive years,” she said.
“I don’t think there’s been another horse who has won the same race three times.
“So we were really delighted with her.”
Meanwhile, Martin said she was excited to see the early development of a $225,000 colt by Triple Crown-winning American champion Justify, out of Twist Tops.
“I’d say late in the autumn would be the most likely time for him,” she said.
“Big, strong colt with a very good way about him.
“And we’re just looking to try and name him in the next couple of weeks.
“Hopefully we can come up with something worthwhile for him.
“He’s a very nice colt.”
Chrysaor Odds In 2022 BJ McLachlan Stakes At Doomben
Race 5 – 
#1 Chrysaor (3)
2yo Colt | T: Chris Waller | J: James Orman (57kg)