SUPER SUNDAY

Magnus has established a handy lead on the Australian Second Season Sires’ chart (by winners) with a ‘clean sheet’ on Sunday … 4 winners from just 4 runners.

The Eliza Park bred, Prettyhappyaboutit (ex. Call Me Pretty by Peaks And Valleys) continued her unbeaten run with a convincing win – as favourite – over 1000m at Ballarat, while at Pakenham, a first starter in the shape of Mightiest (ex. Fantagonal by Octagonal) scored by almost two lengths after racing wide without cover.

Bred by Parador Park and related to 4-time Group One winner, Dr Grace, Mightiest is trained by Wendy Kelly.

However, perhaps the pick of the Magnus’s was another of his debutantes in Greg Bennett’s Magna Amica (ex. Kenny’s Princess by Kenny’s Best Pal) who notched up a class record when winning over 1200m at Tamworth.

Bred by Iroquois Bloodstock and G Nicholson, Magna Amica was sold at the 2011 Inglis Sydney Classic and clearly has a bright future ahead of her.

Not to be outdone though, Magnus finished the day with a winner in Singapore via the promising 3YO, Mr Magnus (ex. Gamelan by Timber Country) who was bred by Erinvale Thoroughbreds before heading north.

As Michael Lee of the Singapore Turf Club reports, owners are bound to have quite a bit of fun with their Magnus youngster:

Trainer Stephen Gray could not have been more complimentary of his new find, Mr Magnus (below), when he put him in the same league as former favourite Goldschatz after he scored his maiden win on Sunday.

The three-year-old by 2008 KrisFlyer International Sprint runner-up Magnus certainly caught the eye when he stepped up on his second-up second placing to go one better in the $65,000 Restricted Maiden (2&3YO) race over 1200m on turf, immediately prompting Gray to declare him as a Singapore Guineas prospect.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had a good one in the stable. We’ve been rebuilding the stable for a while and I think we’ve got a couple of good ones this year,” said the Kiwi conditioner.

“It’s hard to replace horses like Goldschatz, but this bloke is certainly above-average and could be a nice Guineas horse, too.

“He is owned by a bunch of good people – and that’s what racing is all about.”

The Group One Singapore Guineas (1600m) is the third Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge and will be run on May 17.

Hoofnote: Magnus’ 2YO stakes winner, Platinum Kingdom, appears to be again nearing her peak with a resounding third in the Gore Guineas-LR on Saturday … a good thing beaten. Winner of the Champagne Stakes-LR last season, Platinum Kingdom had to do the most work in the race and was hitting the line hard, auguring well for another black type victory.