News

Magnapal Keeps Cup Dream Alive At Caulfield

19th Sep 2015

In-form gelding Magnapal headlined a great day of racing at Caulfield today taking out the day’s feature race, while another three Inglis graduates saluted in stakes races.

Magnapal (Magnus x Luxapal) will set out to write history next month when he lines up for the Group 1 MRC Caulfield Cup after winning the Group 3 MRC Naturalism Stakes over 2000m today under the expert guidance of Luke Currie.

Despite no horse yet to complete the double, co-trainer Terry O’Sullivan is optimistic, saying “It’s a bit of a pipe dream but we’ve got over the first hurdle, he’s in the race.”

“He’s a tough horse. He’s really got a good will to win. We’re absolutely rapt,” added O’Sullivan.

Purchased for $70,000 for co-trainer Terry O’Sullivan from the Yallambee Stud draft at the 2011 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, victory in today’s feature is Magnapal’s third win in as many starts this campaign, and the gelding’s first at Group level.

O’Sullivan cited a run in the Group 3 MVRC JRA Cup over 2040m would be on the cards before Magnapal lines up again at Caulfield, adding “He’s only had three runs to the 2000m and to go to the 2400m I would think he’ll need another solid gallop.”

Also at Caulfield, Politeness (Street Sense x Berengaria) showed an explosive turn of foot to take out the Group 3 MRC How Now Stakes over 1200m for Aquanita Racing and Robert Smerdon, ridden by Mark Zahra. Co-owned by Phil Sly and Katsumi Yoshida, the five-year-old mare was bred and sold by Sledmere Stud, and secured by Malua Bloodstock and Bahen Bloodstock for $115,000 at the 2012 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Smerdon indicated the mare would target the Group 1 Myer Classic over 1600m on Derby Day, following a run in the Group 2 Blazer Stakes over 1400m.

“She’s a talented mare and we want to try and win a Group 1 with her,” said Smerdon.

“She came off a tough autumn where she didn’t have long off but she’s had a trouble-free preparation where everything she’s done has pleased us and we came here thinking she could run really well,” Smerdon said.

$45,000 Inglis Classic buy for trainer Mattew Dale, Fell Swoop (Not A Single Doubt x Touched In Flight) continued to pay dividends today with a determined victory in the Listed MRC Testa Rossa Stakes at Caulfield over 1200m under the guidance of Damien Oliver.

Despite facing less than ideal circumstances, from losing a shoe behind the gates to a wobbly run around the bend, the tough gelding fought on to hold off his rivals, much to the delight of Dale.

“I thought that was a super effort under the circumstances,” said Dale.

“It showed a real will to win which you don't find in too many horses,” Dale said.

Secured from the draft of Dartbrook Downs Thoroughbreds at the 2013 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, the four-year-old has now won eight of his ten career starts and close to $330,000 for a large group of owners. Dale was hesitant to comment what the next step would be for the gelding, however next month’s Group 2 MRC Gilgai Stakes over 1200m is a possibility.

Finally, The Messina Nymph (Commands x Charybdis) took out the day’s final chance for black type in the Listed SAJC Wylie Handicap at Morphettville for trainer Tony McEvoy and Pipeliner Bloodstock.

A $30,000 purchase from the 2012 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from the draft of Widden Stud, the incredibly consistent five-year-old extended her record to six wins and four placings from 12 starts, and her earnings to $286,000.