ANOTHER ONE AWAY FOR MAGNUS

Robbie Griffiths looked a little shell shocked. He’d just forked out $230,000 for a Danzero colt from the Plush mare, Political Asylum, at the 2005 Gold Coast Magic Millions … the most he’d ever paid for a yearling.

He was still a bit nonplussed when, after 13 starts, the now gelding had won just the two starts – $10,700 for a maiden at Wangaratta and $5,850 for a Class 1 at Ballarat.

However, Griffiths is nothing if not persistent and Danzylum has now won three stakes races (including successive Chester Manifolds) and close enough to $740k in stakes.

Fortunately, the Cranbourne mentor hasn’t had to wait so long for Danzylum’s 3YO half sister by Magnus – the aptly named Petrova – who won comfortably on debut over 1000m at her home track on Friday night.

Bred by Rob Crabtree – who owns the majority shareholding in his Group One sprinter Magnus, the mare, and a part share in the filly – Petrova is also a half sister to dual Group One winner Landsighting.

The win, undoubtedly, would have been greeted with much excitement (and lot a little relief) by the crew at Griffiths Racing and expect to see a lot more of this filly in the weeks to come!

Hoofnote: Petrova is named after the Russian diplomat’s wife, Evdokia Petrova, who sought political asylum in Australia in a much publicised case in April 1954.