WEEKEND (BLACK) DELIGHT

The eyes of an industry were focused on Caulfield on Saturday for the return of Bel Esprit legend, Black Caviar, in an exhibition gallop, but the black of another type played a huge role for Eliza Park across two ‘ponds’ over the weekend.

Fittingly, Black Caviar’s close relation – Magnus – produced some magic of his own via the nifty 3YO, Platinum Kingdom, who took out his second stakes victory with a confident win in the Metalon Guineas in New Zealand, while across the Bass Strait on Sunday, Written Tycoon grabbed 2YO glory with the unbeaten, Grand Tycoon, taking out the Elwick Stakes.

Although it doesn’t add to his current position at the top of the Australian Second Season Sires’ ladder (by winners), Magnus put his name in front of Kiwi breeders with Platinum Kingdom lobbing at Wingatui in the Listed Metalon Guineas.

Magnus’ inaugural stakes winner by taking out the Listed Champagne Stakes as a 2YO, Platinum Kingdom appeared cherry ripe for Saturday’s assignment after his luckless third in the Listed Gore Guineas.

Awapuni trainer, Lisa Latta, said the handsome 3YO “deserved to win today” and that he “will improve and develop quite a bit yet”.

Jockey Darryl Bradley added that the result was never in any doubt: “He’s got good gate speed and was nice and relaxed. Give the second horse credit and he kicked well, but my horse rolled in so I switched the whip to my left hand and he won as he liked – no worries at all.”

The winner of five of his 11 starts, Platinum Kingdom will next start in the Listed ITL Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas on 16 February.

And Barry Campbell was one happy Apple Islander when his exciting juvenile, Grand Tycoon, continued his unbeaten run by taking out the $100,000 Elwick Stakes-LR at Hobart on Sunday.

Kicking off with a three length win at Hobart last November, the Written Tycoon youngster hasn’t missed a stride in four subsequent outings and lived right up to his favouritism on Sunday and a trip to the mainland would appear to be on the cards.

With city winners such as Smasher, Writteninthestars, Ambrosia, Write Cheek and Written Eleison flying the flag for him in January, Written Tycoon is also the sire of Group winners Howmuchdoyouloveme and Trump.

Hoofnote: Platinum Kingdom’s dam, Miss Rangoon, was once owned and raced by the late Jim Fleming, father of Eliza Park’s owner, Lee Fleming. Sent to Magnus in 2008, the resulting foal – Platinum Kingdom – was sold to Beamish Bloodstock at the 2010 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.

Platinum Kingdom