MAG-NIFICIENT DOUBLE

Champion Victorian first season sire, Magnus, produced a notable double on Friday with Magnus Belle leading all the way to win by 6 lengths before Ludus Magnus motored home to score comfortably on debut.

The Darren Weir trained, Magnus Belle had logged some good leadup form since commencing racing in August but nothing like her explosive performance over 1000m at Mildura: bred by Darren Dance, P Larkin and R Fletcher and out of the High Yield mare Martha, Magnus Belle shot straight to the lead and scored in very, VERY impressive fashion.

There wasn’t six lengths separating Peter Moody’s, Ludus Magnus, from his rivals at Cranbourne, but there was plenty of breathing space regardless with the first starter winning with over two lengths to spare over the 1200m.

Magnus himself was trained by Moody (as is, of course, Magnus’ close relation Black Caviar) and the Caulfield mentor should have quite a bit of fun with this bloke after Ludus Magnus stormed home from near last on the turn.

Hailing from Rob Crabtree’s vast flock of well bred matrons, Ludus Magnus is out of the Distant Music mare Zipstream (a half sister to two of Crabtree’s stakes winners in Furio and Amtrak) and was sold by Eliza Park to Roy Higgins & Wylie Dalziel Racing for $80,000 at last year’s Melbourne Premier.

Roy and Wylie are also riding high on the success of another Melbourne purchase in Moshe, the full brother to Black Caviar who is currently working his way for a monster opening book at Eliza Park this spring.

Roy Higgins & Wylie Dalziel