Yes Lulu books a ticket to the 2025 Magic Millions Fillies and Mares

Jockey Declan Bates says he may have to cut short a holiday in Ireland to come back for a ride at the Gold Coast next month.

Bates partnered the Ciaron Maher-trained Yes Lulu to victory in the Magic Millions VIC 3YO & 4YO Classic (1200m) at Caulfield Heath on Saturday with the filly a confirmed starter at the Gold Coast on January 11.

Maher’s stable representative Adrian Joyce said the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares (1300m) was Yes Lulu’s target assignment.

Yes Lulu ($10) came from back in the field to run down Miss Altair ($2.80) to score by a long neck with the $2.50 wagering sites favourite Miraval Rose a further three-quarters-of-a-length away third.

“I’m going back to Ireland next week for a little while, but I might come back on a little holiday, mid-holiday,” Bates said.

“She’s a lovely filly. It’s the first time I’ve sat on her. I just love the way she finished off.

“She’s a big, beautiful, actioned filly, so the fact that she’s winning around this tight track is probably a bonus, because she’s probably going to be even better on a bigger track.

“She’s clearly very well balanced. She gets around there, and today, she had that nice turn of foot.

“It was a good win.”

Joyce said Yes Lulu had always shown the Maher stable loads of ability and had been placed at Stakes level as a two-year-old.

He said as the filly has matured, the stable feels she will stretch out in trip.

“She has always shown us that she could do this,” Joyce said.

“On paper, it looked like there was a lot of speed in the race, but there didn’t look like there was a whole lot of speed out there, so she did well to come from where she did.

“Dec was very cool on her. He didn’t panic and gave her a super ride.

“She’ll definitely go up there to the Gold Coast and the 1300 (metres) will be ideal.

“It’s great for the team that own her. There’s plenty of them there today they are really excited.”