MAGNUS’ KINGDOM

Magnus might not have had too much luck at Moonee Valley on Friday night when his classy sprinter, Magnus Reign, was beaten a lip over 1200m in his first run for nearly three months, but across the pond, Platinum Kingdom (below) enhanced his reputation as one of New Zealand’s finest 3YOs with a gallant win over 1400m at Wellington.

A stakes winner at two, Platinum Kingdom has now three of his last four including successive stakes victories in the Dunedin and then Southland Guineas, along with a third in the Listed Gore Guineas.

On Saturday, Platinum Kingdom sat just off the pace before hitting the lead in the home stretch and holding off a solid challenge over the final 200m while carrying topweight of 59kgs.

Magnus was also in the news – albeit vicariously – when exciting Bel Esprit 2YO, Iconic, captured the $250k VOBIS Gold Rush at Bendigo on Saturday.

Iconic is out of the Danehill mare, Danavia, who has four winners from four runners and is a three quarter sister to Magnus, both of whom are close relations to Black Caviar who will strut her stuff at Moonee Valley on Friday night.