MAGNUS COLT TAKES CHARGE

Exciting Magnus debutant, I’m In Charge, certainly lived up to his name with a dominant performance in the Schweppes Maiden Plate (1200m) at Geelong today.

Sent out a $1.80 favourite, I’m In Charge raced near the lead throughout before zooming clear over the final stages to score by 3.3 lengths.

Trained by Robert Smerdon and raced by Price Bloodstock Management Ltd, the Magnus colt was sold through the Eliza Park draft at the 2011 Gold Coast Magic Millions.

Bred by Robert Crabtree, who also raced his sire, I’m In Charge is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare, Obbligato, a daughter of the Sydney Group winning 2YO, Postage Due – in turn a half sister to Caulfield Guineas winner Copperama and closely related to dual Oaks winners Danendri and Faint Perfume.

Eliza Park also sold a full sister to I’m In Charge at this year’s Adelaide Magic Millions.

I’m In Charge is pictured below as a yearling.

THE BEL IS TOLLING

Perennial Victorian champ, Bel Esprit, is on the verge of creating history.

Having already gained global recognition – and a degree of immortality – via his daughter Black Caviar, Bel Esprit has now produced 155 individual winners for the season – joining Commands (2010-11) – on the all-time high list of winners in an Australian season.

(Well, we’re pretty sure 155 is the record, following consultation with the Stud Book, Bluebloods and Stallions chief, Andrew Reichard, Jeff Kruger from Lyndhurst Stud – whose Celestial Dancer broke all sorts of records in the 90s – and the doyen himself, Brian Russell).

The record equaling effort came from Chiming, who won by a massive 4.5 lengths at Devonport on Wednesday, following a string of placings in the past 12 months.

Out of the Western Symphony mare, East Meets West, Chiming was, somewhat appropriately, bred by long-time Eliza supporter and former Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria treasurer, Ruth Frenzel.

Importantly, and contrary to oft-quoted opinion, Bel Esprit has achieved this record-equaling performance with a superior winners to runners strike rate to any of his predecessors in the past 10 seasons.

WEEK GOES BUSH

Bushranger continues to impress European fans with another two first crop winners through the week, kicking off with a victory to Indikova in Germany on Sunday and following up with another score via Bushcraft in England on Wednesday.

Stepping out for the first time – over 1200m in Berlin – Indikova (below) won easily and she will now be targeting a Group race at Baden Baden. A half sister to German Group One winner Temida, Indikova is out of the multiple winner, Interim Payment (by Red Ransom). Originally sold for 44,000 guineas at Tattersalls, she was later snapped up for 80,000 guineas at the breeze up sales.

Meanwhile, Bushcraft notched up his second win on the trot for Ed Walker, taking out the – get this – Slug and Lettuce Book Now For Christmas Nursery Handicap over 1000m at Sandown.

Bushcraft took total command over the final furlong to win by over two lengths, after winning his previous outing by four and a half lengths on 9 July.

Hailing from the Royal Applause mare Lady Lucia and linebred to Green Desert through a daughter and a son, Bushcraft is a half brother to multiple stakes placed 2YO, Mullionmileanhour, and is from the family of Australian Group One winner and sire, Runyon.

ANOTHER SHINZIG VICTORY

Confident victory by Wayne Nichols’ up and comer, Another Wizard, at Echuca on Monday.

The Shinzig 3YO was prominent throughout before surging to the lead with the post in sight to score by over two lengths over the 1400m journey.

Out of the Canny Lad mare, Just Canny, is a grandson of the Group placed Just Delight and related to multiple stakes winner, Follow The Ride, but is also from the family of 1970 Melbourne Cup winner Baghdad Note (below).

NEAT WIN BY SHARKBITE 2YO

Sharkbite filly, Neat Bite, gave rise to a promising 3YO career with a heart stopping performance to score over 900m at Cessnock on Monday.

Coming from midfield with only two furlongs to travel, Neat Bite flew home to grab the verdict right on the wire. It was only Neat Bite’s second run and the Jeremy Smith trained 2YO appears to still have plenty of room for improvement.

An outstandingly bred son of Redoute’s Choice, Sharkbite (below) has only had a handful of runners from a first crop that yielded just 45 live foals – it will be interesting to see what happens with another 157 foals from his next two crops!

MAGNUS’ KINGDOM A HOTY FINALIST

Magnus 3YO, Platinum Kingdom, now the winner of five stakes races, is both a finalist for Horse of the Year and 3YO of the Year at the 2012-13 New Zealand Awards on 15 August.

Winner of the Champagne Classic at two, Platinum Kingdom won two black type races on the trot back home in February before heading across the ditch for victory in the South Pacific at Randwick and Group success in the Fred Best at Doomben.

A tough as teak performer he’s notched up top four finishes in 10 of his last 11 outings – and all bar one of those at black type level.

He’s certainly been a banner horse for Magnus who is currently second on the national Second Season chart by winners and is also the sire of Missy Cummings (a stakes winner during the Sydney autumn, a week after Platinum Kingdom’s win at Randwick) and Perth flyer, Magnifisio.