MAGNUS – HOW SWEET IT IS!

Potential morphed into reality today with the exceptional victory of Magnus colt, How Swede It Is, over 1200m at Mornington.

The Shane Nichols 2YO had well and truly been knocking on the door with three seconds and a third from his previous five outings – including a ‘troubled’ run at Moonee Valley in mid March when second to Underestimation in the Listed St Albans Stakes.

How Swede It Is was again slowly away but moved up easily to race just off the pace until turning for home. With Noel Callow doing the steering, the Magnus youngster eventually found a clear passage before scooting away to a comfortable victory.

“What a terrific win that was,” trainer Shane Nichols declared. “The tempo of the race didn’t suit him but he’s been ultra consistent and this was well and truly deserved.

“I’ve now got five Magnus’ – including a couple of yearlings – and I simply couldn’t be happier with them.

“This bloke (How Swede It Is) will next run in the (Group Three) Sires’ Produce over 1400m in Adelaide in a fortnight and I expect him to be very competitive.

“I reckon he’ll race up to a mile and seems like the type that will train on – which is hardly surprising. Magnus really came into his own at three and four winning the (Group One) Galaxy in Sydney and the Age Classic (now Group One) in Melbourne.”

Bred and raced by Kevan Wacey’s Gleneagles Stud, How Swede It Is, is the first winner for Magnus who has been popular with breeders, then with trainers and agents, since retiring to Eliza Park where he stands in conjunction with Yallambee Stud.

It’s not hard to work out why Magnus has so many fans … apart from his high consistency on the track (finishing in the top four in no less than 10 Group Ones sprints) he is also a half brother to the dam of Black Caviar.

Magnus may have only had a handful of runners in Australia to date, but he’s certainly making his presence felt with three of just six runners earning black type … that’s 50% stakes horses to runners.

Imprimis, a recent Caulfield second, has two stakes placings from two campaigns to date, while Magnus Reign gathered his Group placing on Emirates Stakes day when making his debut at Flemington last November.