Icarian Dream puts third Magic Millions 2YO Classic within reach for Ciaron Maher after BJ McLachlan Stakes win at Eagle Farm

Ciaron Maher has his sights on a third Magic Millions 2YO Classic after Icarian Dream burst into calculations with a powerful win in the BJ McLachlan Stakes.

Icarian Dream was too good in the BJ McLachlan Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Training marvel Ciaron Maher has a third Magic Millions 2YO Classic in six years within his grasp after pulling off a training masterstroke at Eagle Farm on Saturday with Icarian Dream in the Group 3 BJ McLachlan Stakes (1200m).

Maher enjoyed a golden summer in Queensland earlier in the year and will be looking to kick off 2025 with a spring in his step after his filly jumped into Magic Millions calculations with the slashing win, overcoming a host of local hopes to grab the $300,000 prize.

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With Maher the master of the unorthodox, Icarian Dream had her fourth career start on Saturday and will likely go into the $3m 2YO Classic on January 11 fifth-up, where she is a $6 second favourite.

Sydneysider Jason Collett made the trip north for the day to ride the filly and had his high opinion of her franked.

“Her turn of foot is electric, she got there so quickly and then it is such a long straight for a two-year-old to come up, especially when you are right in the middle,” Collett said

“It’s a credit to Ciaron and his team, she was in the first two-year-old trial of the season and has raced through that period.

“If anything, she is thriving with racing.

“I don’t know how he (Maher) manages to do it, but I know I like being on them.”

Icarian Dream puts her hand up for the Magic Millions! 🙋‍♀️

Jason Collett and Ciaron Maher combine to take out the B.J. McLachlan Stakes. @cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/crJgi8IPo9

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) December 21, 2024

After being well backed to jump a $2.60 favourite, Tony Gollan’s Hi Barbie was the first horse beaten when she settled outside the lead in the run.

Gollan said the filly was found to have suffered atrial fibrillation in the run.

“We will get her back home and have a look at her to see how she has pulled up and make a decision from there,” he said.

Collett said it was anything but a smooth ride for him on Icarian Dream, but is enjoying seeing the filly grow up in front of his eyes.

“The saddle was slipping on her and it was pretty uncomfortable for a while there,” he said.

“She has grown up in front a little bit since the last time I rode her, she isn’t really big at all really.”

Icarian Dream was a $310,000 purchase by Maher and is eligible for the lucrative $500,000 women in racing bonus on Magic Millions day, with all-female ownership involved in her.

Chris and Corey Munce could have secured their second Magic Millions runner in as many days after Cool Archie stuck his neck out to collect the $55,000 second place cheque.

It came after Vein Girl won The Debut for the stable on Friday night at the Gold Coast.

Originally published as Icarian Dream puts third Magic Millions 2YO Classic within reach for Ciaron Maher after BJ McLachlan Stakes win at Eagle Farm