Divine Service chases Magic Millions stop-over on way to longer trips

JASON McLachlan hopes class will get Divine Service a Magic Millions berth, even though the promising youngster will be better over longer distances.

Divine Service pokes out a nose on the line to win at $51 last start.

JASON McLachlan hopes class will be enough to get promising youngster Divine Service home at Doomben today, even though he's probably looking for more ground.

Divine Service caused a boilover as a $51 chance on debut when lowering the colours of $1.60 pop Elitist.

Splitting the pair was Ruby Soho, who has since raced very well behind Magic Millions favourite Oakleigh Girl.

Divine Service will be nowhere near the same odds today and McLachlan hopes he can stitch up a Magic Millions berth by winning.

But the Millions is just another race along the way, as the trainer feels the son of dual hemisphere Group 1 winner Haradasun will be superior once he gets to 1400m and beyond.

"He's going to be a nice horse once he gets to that sort of trip," McLachlan said.

"So I've put the blinkers on (today) to sharpen him up enough for the 1100m.

"He's a good horse and I'm sure he will race well. It's just a matter of whether he's looking for further yet.

"He was only half ready when he won first up. He'd only had the one jumpout, so he did a very good job to win.

"If he races well, he will go to the Magic Millions, but like I said, his best will come later on over further."

Divine Service's trainer, Jason McLachlan at Doomben. Picture: Mark Cranitch.

McLachlan paid tribute to Doug Roberts, who prepared Divine Service for his debut win while he spent some time away from racing for personal reasons.

"Doug's been with us a long time and knows the stable back to front. I knew he would do a good job for us and he did," McLachlan said.

As the son of Queensland racing legend Bruce, McLachlan has always been a prominent figure and his first city winner back with Enquare earlier this month was a very popular one.

Enquare races next Saturday in the Vo Rogue Plate in her final lead-up to what McLachlan hopes will give him back-to-back Magic Millions Guineas.

"She's a better horse than (last year's winner) Saluter and she's improved again since the first up win," he said.

"I don't know about Santa Claus - he doesn't seem to be there when you need him - so I'm my own Santa and if I win with Divine Service (today) and then Enquare next week it will be a good Christmas."

Millions day has been kind to McLachlan, who won the 2YO Classic with Phelan Ready in 2009.

The grand campaigner, who was only recently usurped by Buffering as Queensland's highest ever stakes earner, runs in the Lough Neagh Stakes.

"He ran well again last time and the good thing for him now is that he's getting down in the weights," McLachlan said.