Australia: Unbeaten 2-year-olds meet in B.J. McLachlan Stakes

Two weeks after he stormed clear to win his first start by five lengths, The Novelist will have his stakes debut in the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds at Doomben Racecourse in Australia on Friday evening across American time zones.

The key to winning the six-furlong race for The Novelist is to hold off a threat from the equally promising Miss Coota, a filly unbeaten in two starts.

Doomben has a nine-race program that begins at 9:03 p.m. Eastern or 6:03 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The $167,300 McLachlan Stakes drew a field of nine, including five winners and the first-time starter Godzilla.

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The Novelist, trained by Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse, was the 8-5 favorite in a maiden race at Kembla Grange Racecourse on Dec. 10. The Novelist led from the start and easily beat seven rivals.

Miss Coota, trained by Chris Munce, was the 8-5 favorite in early betting for the McLachlan Stakes on Thursday, a fairly solid choice over The Novelist at 3-1. Miss Coota won a five-furlong race at Eagle Farm Racecourse on Oct. 8 and a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Doomben on Oct. 22. She was favored in both races and was always near the front.

The other winners in the MacLachlan field are the colt Chrysaor and the fillies Mighty and Freeman.

Freeman won her debut in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Doomben on Nov. 5, but finished sixth of 10 in the Calaway Gal Stakes for fillies at five furlongs at Eagle Farm on Dec. 10 after fading to the back of the field early.

Excel d’Or, who will have her second start in the McLachlan, was third by slightly more than a half-length in the Calaway Gal Stakes in her debut for trainer Anabel Neasham.

Excel d’Or was the 3-1 second choice in a field of 10. She broke sharply and was prominent throughout before losing to Malaboom, who has since been turned out.

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