News - MAGNUS (AUS)
As he has now done for the past three seasons, the Robbie Griffiths trained Magnus gelding Rey Magnerio has secured black type during the Flemington carnival, winning the $200,000 Listed VRC Century Stakes (1000m) on Oaks Day.
Trainer Clinton McDonald recorded his second G1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) victory in the last three years when his Magnus filly Streisand further improved off a last start success in the G2 MRC Blue Diamond Prelude (F) to take out Caulfield's $2m juvenile feature by three quarters of a length.
Off the back of some consistent form, the multiple stakes placed Magnus gelding Magnaspin broke through for his first black type victory, winning the Listed MRC Victoria Gold Cup (2000m) and taking his earnings past $1m for Bennett Racing.
Already stakes placed on two prior occasions, Clinton McDonald’s 2yo filly Streisand (Magnus) improved from her slightly unlucky fifth in the G3 MRC Blue Diamond Preview (F) (1000m) last time out to win the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Boxers talk about “going the distance” and that was the million dollar question about Robbie Griffith’s tough Magnus gelding Rey Magnerio, who took his earnings to $2million on Saturday with victory in the $1.5million Group III WATC Gold Rush (1400m), the final feature race of The Pinnacles carnival at Ascot.
Fresh appears best for Robbie Griffiths’ Magnus gelding Rey Magnerio as the 6yo charged late to win the $300,000 Group 2 MRC Herald Sun Sprint (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday, his third win from four first up runs.
Having raced at Flemington, Rosehill and Ascot at his last three starts, the Matthew Dale trained Front Page travelled to his fourth different state in as many starts, winning the $300,000 G2 BRC Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm.
The Warrnambool carnival might celebrate the jumping horses, but the $200,000 Listed Colin McKenna Wangoom Handicap (1200m) is always a highlight with victory this year going to a five year-old gelding by much missed Victorian sire Magnus.
Magnus sprinter Rey Magnerio will aim for Group I status after scoring his biggest win to date in the Group II Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday,
Second in the Group II Millennium Sprint and runner-up seven days ago in the Group III Rising Fast Stakes, Rey Magnerio earned a well-deserved stakes success in Saturday’s Listed Cirka Always Welcome Stakes at Flemington. Still, for connections, it proved another heart-stopper.
The 2-year-old Magnus debutant Miss Celine left fans stunned when she came from tailed-off last for the unlikeliest of wins in Wednesday’s Listed Magic Millions Debutant Stakes (100m) at Caulfield.
He might be rising eight with 29 stakes races on his resume, but the Magnus gelding Just Folk has never been in better form.
It was a good result for the Victorians in a thrilling finish to the $250,000 Group III Richmond Club Hawkesbury Gold Cup, with the well-supported Just Folk defeating the top-weight Detonator Jack.
While there is no Australian representation on the Dubai World Cup card this year, there is plenty to keep fans enthralled in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The loss of much missed Victorian favourite sire Magnus was highlighted on Saturday when he had a race to race Group double at Caulfield with Just Folk landing the Group III MRC Eclipse Stakes (1800m) followed by King Magnus in the Group III MRC Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m).
After giving yeoman service to Josh Julius, Just Folk is now a stakes-winner for Gavin Bedggood after toughing it out in the Group III Lamaro's Hotel Eclipse Stakes at Caulfield to break a winning drought that extends back to the Group II Ajax Stakes at Rosehill in March 2022.
The Group II Premier Bowl (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday was expected to see champion Kiwi bred sprinter Lucky Sweynesse return to the winner’s circle after his first up defeat last month, but he came up short again when seven year-old Magnus gelding Sight Success overpowered him on the line.
Widden Stud Victoria’s much missed Magnus has left some terrific sprinters over the years, but the highest stakes earner among them is talented country galloper Front Page, who enjoyed the biggest of pay day of his career last year when taking out the $2million ATC The Kosciuszko (1200m) at Randwick and he went back to back on Saturday.
One of the true warriors of the Australian turf has been euthanized due to age related issues. On vets advice, he (Magnus) was humanely treated in his final hours.
Choosing a proven sire that you know can get a Group I winner is one way of lessening the risk when what you really want to do is a breed a winner and Widden Stud’s Proven Play is going to prove hard to resist!