After Christmas and the Boxing Day races are done and dusted the Saturday racing action in Brisbane is top class on the weekend with one of the Group features at the Doomben meet being the B.J. McLachlan Stakes 2013 featuring a field full of Magic Millions hopes for next month.

Magic Millions-bound Unencumbered takes on two smart fillies in the BJ McLachlan Stakes 2013 this Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.

A quality field of two-year-olds is engaged for this year’s $150,000 Listed McGrath Estate Agents BJ McLachlan Stakes (1200m) which has drawn 10 final acceptors.

To wear the number one saddlecloth and the most experienced of the bunch is Bjorn Baker’s promising Testa Rossa colt Unencumbered.

Drawn on the rails and set to get the run of the race with Nathan Berry aboard he shoots for his fourth career win at start number five.

They’ve won their past two on the trot, most recently setting themselves up for a trip to the Gold Coast next month for the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic following a win in the Wyong edition of the restricted classic on December 19.

In futures Magic Millions Classic betting Unencumbered is the $6.50 third favourite trailing Sydney’s Echo Gal ($5.50) and the Brisbane based Oakleigh Girl ($6).

Both fillies are also engaged to face off in the BJ McLachlan Stakes which is shaping up as a telling Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic trial.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Echo Gal is drawn wide in barrier nine for Saturday where she’ll be having just her first career run.

The daughter of Stratum caught the eye with a four and a half length trial win at Randwick in November and carried that form to her debut at Warwick Farm on December 11 when defeating I Am Snippety by four lengths over the 1000m.

Danny Bougoure’s Snitzel filly Oakleigh Girl meanwhile is also undefeated having won her opening two career starts on the trot.

The first was a Group 3 at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day from which she backed up at Doomben on December 14 to win the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes (1010m).

Also yet to taste defeat are fellow McLachlan Stakes hopes Bassillique who won the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes at Doomben on debut, to Rob Heathcote-trained Denman gelding Pinch River coming off a blistering six length Eagle Farm win from mid-November and dual Doomben winning filly Stroak.

See below for the complete BJ McLachlan Stakes 2013 field, barriers and jockeys.

Betting on this Saturday’s races will open at Ladbrokes.com.au shortly.

Ladbrokes.com.au also already have markets going off for the Magic Millions Classic on January 11 and now is the time to back your favourites before prices firm following the BJ McLachlan Stakes results.

2013 BJ McLachlan Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Doomben Race 6 – 3:25pm (local) – 28/12/2013