MAGNUS’ KINGDOM

Throughout his illustrious career, Magnus won a Group One in Sydney, the Age Classic (now Group One) in Melbourne, ran third in the Kings Stand at Royal Ascot and, in what was arguably one of his great performances, finished a brilliant second behind Takeover Target in Singapore’s KrisFlyer-G1.

Yet, despite his extensive campaigning, he never set hoof in New Zealand.

Still, his recognition ‘across the pond’ had a huge lift yesterday with the stakes winning effort of his first crop 2YO, Platinum Kingdom, in the Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes-LR at Canterbury.

It was definitely a platinum performance from the flashy colt who was stepping out for the fifth time, hot on the heels of a victory at Manawatu in mid April and a second at Wellington when beaten a nose in the Mills Reef Premier.

Quickly away, Platinum Kingdom settled just off the pace but had trouble finding daylight until about 400m from home. Swung out off the fence, Platinum Kingdom took the lead in a couple of strides and held off all challengers for a career defining victory.

The colt is now being targeted for the Group One NZ 2000 Guineas.

And while the win of Platinum Kingdom (ex. Miss Rangoon by Giant’s Causeway) earned Magnus plenty of accolades in New Zealand, his reputation in this neck of the woods has grown considerably in the past month.

To date, Magnus (below) has had just the 10 runners, but four of them – Platinum Kingdom, How Swede It Is, Kolonga and Ride a Rock Horse – are winners, while four (40%) have been successful at stakes level: Platinum Kingdom is Magnus’ first stakes winners but Imprimis has been twice stakes placed in Melbourne, while How Swede It Is and Magnus Reign have also earned black type.

And although Platinum Kingdom’s victory will have no bearing on Magnus’ position on the Australian First Season Sires’ table – where he currently sits fourth – his phenomenal black type strike rate is superior to other Aussie top 10 dwellers such as Casino Prince (31 runners, 3 stakes horses), Husson (36, 5), Court Command (22, 0), Bernardini (22, 1), Danehill Express (18, 0), Purrealist (19, 0), Husson Lightning (20, 0), Henny Hughes (16, 1) and Excellent Art (12, 1).