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Tony McEvoy hopes to double his representation in the $2 million Magic Millions Classic when he starts Ipswich winner Hills at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

McEvoy, who won the MM Classic last year with Sunlight, is in a strong position to go back to back after Sun City shot to the top of the qualifying order with his win in the G3 BJ McLachlan Stakes at Doomben last Saturday.

While an excellent result for the stable it wasn’t quite what McEvoy hoped for as his highly vaunted first starter Just Zerene failed to qualify for the MM Classic when she finished unplaced as favourite.

However McEvoy is confident Hills can pick up sufficient prizemoney at the Gold Coast on Saturday to join Sun City in the MM Classic (1200m) on Saturday week following her dominant maiden win over 1025m at Ipswich last Friday.

The quick back up to run in Saturday’s Clan O’Sullivan Handicap (1100m) is a challenge for Hills but McEvoy is hoping the Not A Single Doubt filly can win the key race that Sunlight landed last year a week before she won the MM Classic.

McEvoy also noted that the program he has set Hills is not unprecedented as Le Chef won at the same Ipswich meeting in 2015 then backed up to win the two Gold Coast races a week apart.

Houtzen also won the Gold Coast lead-up a week before she won the MM Classic in 2017.

“Le Chef did this a couple of years ago, winning at Ipswich, backed up and then backed up again,” McEvoy said.

“Fillies can be tougher than the boys so we will give Hills the opportunity. At the moment it is all fine – she hasn’t left an oat since Friday.”

McEvoy says there are no issues with Sun City following his Doomben win.

“He needed a good, tough run and he has come through it very well,” McEvoy said.

Saturday’s Gold Coast race is the last qualifier for the MM Classic and not surprisingly has attracted a host of borderline contenders among the 30 nominations that may lead to the race being divided into two fields of 10 to give more youngsters the chance to make the big race.

The entries include The Odyssey, who is safely in the top 16 for the MM Classic after beating Sun City in the Phelan Ready Stakes at Doomben three weeks ago.

His trainer Kelly Schweida said the McLachan Stakes result augers well for his colt’s chances over the next two Saturdays.

“I think you have to take confidence that the McLachlan Stakes winner finished behind me in the Phelan Ready,” Schweida said.

“I think The Odyssey will have the same improvement. He hadn’t run for eight weeks leading into the first up run.”

Other well performed youngsters bidding to make the MM Classic field this weekend include Devine Factor, Betaima, Champagne Jet and the Godolphin filly Exhilarates.