Hold the Front Page - Riverina Flyer is another Rising Star for Magnus

Mark Smith - Saturday June 20

Future Group 1 winners Gytrash and Nature Strip have won the last two editions of the Listed VRC AR Creswick Stakes and few would be surprised if the exciting three-year-old gelding Front Page makes his presence felt at the highest level after the son of Magnus treated a high-class field with contempt in Saturday’s feature at Flemington.

Front Page leads them a merry dance in Cresswick Stakes (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

His time of 1:09.56 compared favourably to Nature Stip (2018) -1:10.05 and Gytrash (2019) - 1:11.40.

Making his first start in the big smoke and with apprentice Lewis German in the saddle, the Geoff Duryea-trained gelding made it a one-act affair over the final 100 metres to defeat the Zoffany (IRE) gelding Hi Stranger by two and and three-quarter lengths with the Fastnet Rock filly Merited a nose back in third.    

It was a first stakes win for German.

“These opportunities don’t come around often for apprentices. I’ve had a bit of success with Geoff and some of the owners, Germain said.

“I went up to Wangaratta a couple of weeks ago to ride him for the first time and he blitzed them there so I was very positive coming here today.”

A full-brother to the highly talented, stakes-placed filly News Girl, Front Page advanced his record to 4 wins and a second from 6 starts with earnings of $126,075.

Front Page another rising start for Magnus (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

Representing his father Geoff, part-owner Paul Duryea said they had thrown the son of Magus in the deep end to see if he would measure up.  

“We are really rapt, obviously coming from the country to the city we were not sure how he would handle it but he is a laid-back horse and another A-grade ride by Lewis,’ Duryea said.

“We didn’t want to lead but he just landed there and was rated well and he really let down.

Advertisement

“He is totally different (from News Girl). She is just, jump, run win where he doesn’t care about anything. You could drop a bomb under him and he wouldn’t move. He does just what you want him to do but he has the same ability.

“We knew he had ability, but he is a long way behind her mentally, so we just wanted those couple of extra runs in the country to let him switch on a bit. It was a big step up but we thought that if he raced up to what he was showing us we could run top three but to win like that is a big bonus.

“At this stage he will go to the paddock. We came down to see how he would handle it then maybe some spring plans but we will see how he pulls up.”

Front Page is a pure product of Sun Stud being by Magnus out of Stacey Lee a talented daughter of Bel Esprit.There are very few better value stallions than Magnus

Geoff Duryea purchased Stacey Lee for $20,000 out of the Baerami Thoroughbreds draft at the 2009 Inglis Australian Select Weanling Sale.

It proved to be money well spent as she won 5 of her 20 starts while banking $73,257.

Stacey Lee is a daughter of the Varick mare Curio Jade who placed in the Group 1 Queensland Classic and Listed Doomben Slipper.

Stacy Lee has a yearling filly by Dundeel and was covered by Rubick last spring.

Front Page becomes the 22nd stakes-winner for Sun Stud’s Magnus who also had another impressive winner at Morphettville with the Bob Richard trained gelding Star Hills.

Magnus will stand the forthcoming season at Sun Stud for a value fee of $15,400.

Advertisment

Race Result - A.R. Creswick Stakes LR 1200m

Flemington Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:09.56
1
Front Page
- 3g Magnus (AUS) x Stacey Lee (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: G M Duryea Rdr: Lewis German 58
Magnus
2
2.8
Hi Stranger
- 3g Zoffany (IRE) x Luxury Suite (AUS) (Viscount (AUS))
Tnr: S Fliedner Rdr: Jye McNeil 59
3
2.9
Merited
- 3f Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Jeu De Cartes (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: M Zahra 56
Fastnet Rock
4
3.0
Alburq
- 3g Rubick (AUS) x Euro Chic (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: D W Stackhouse 59
5
3.1
Hawker Hurricane
- 3g Deep Field (AUS) x Bernarsini (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Jordan Childs 60
6
3.9
That Girl
- 3f Sizzling (AUS) x Glogirl (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Ben Thompson 56
7
4.6
Kalkarni Royale
- 3f Nicconi (AUS) x Brookton Heritage (AUS) (Mujahid (USA))
Tnr: K L Corstens Rdr: D Dunn 57
8
6.1
Scorpius
- 3g Deep Field (AUS) x Scorpio Queen (AUS) (Choisir (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Jamie Kah 58
9
6.2
King Of Hastings
- 3g Ilovethiscity (AUS) x Handcut (AUS) (Danerich (AUS))
Tnr: Anthony Freedman Rdr: Craig Williams 60
10
6.3
Lucifer's Reward
- 3g Reward For Effort (AUS) x Petite Briefs (AUS) (Brief Truce (USA))
Tnr: B J McCarthy Rdr: J Mott 58
11
11.3
Run To Perfection
- 3c Sepoy (AUS) x El Shahar (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: D Oliver 58
12
14.1
To Her Door
- 3f Adelaide (IRE) x Nena Candida (AUS) (Canny Lad (AUS))
Tnr: J D Sadler Rdr: C Newitt 56
13
15.3
Broadwayandfourth
- 3f Smart Missile (AUS) x Broadway Harmony (AUS) (Statue Of Liberty (USA))
Tnr: Mitchell Freedman Rdr: B Melham 58
14
16.1
I Am Eloquent
- 3f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Choice Words (AUS) (Choisir (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: Regan Bayliss 58
More Reading...
Will Macdonald Joins Astute Bloodstock
Astute Bloodstock is delighted to announce the expansion of our team as we continue to meet increasing client demand and pursue our Group 1 ambitions.
Sires With Winners - Friday September 5
Here is the full list of 41 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Justify Mare Wins $250,000 Wyong Mona Lisa Stakes
A big field of 14 mares went around in the $250,000 Listed Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) at Wyong on Friday and the race produced a thrilling finish with less than two lengths separating  the first eight over the line with Just Feelin’ Lucky taking the prize.
Aussie Connection with Impressive St Mark’s Basilica Debut Winner
2021 European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) is at Coolmore Australia this spring and had an impressive debut winner at Ascot overnight with El Vamos powering clear of her rivals to win as she pleased.
First Group Victory For $3.5m Earner Front Page
Having raced at Flemington, Rosehill and Ascot at his last three starts, the Matthew Dale trained Front Page travelled to his fourth different state in as many starts, winning the $300,000 G2 BRC Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm.
One to Watch – Wyong
The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton stable have been running hot into spring and unleashed a talented Wootton Bassett (GB) colt at Wyong on Friday that bolted in to win by nearly five lengths.
Magnus Sprinter Goes Back to Back in $2million Kosciuszko
Widden Stud Victoria’s much missed Magnus has left some terrific sprinters over the years, but the highest stakes earner among them is talented country galloper Front Page, who enjoyed the biggest of pay day of his career last year when taking out the $2million ATC The Kosciuszko (1200m) at Randwick and he went back to back on Saturday.
Expensive Super Seth 3YO Bolts in by Five!
Smart three-year-old Street Artist notched his first victory in impressive style when leading throughout to defeat a strong maiden field over 1000m at Mornington on Friday by nearly five lengths.
Magnus Sprinter Wins $2million Kosciuszko
Widden Stud’s Magnus is rarely without a good sprinter and talented country galloper Front Page enjoyed the biggest of pay days when taking out the $2million ATC The Kosciuszko (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 AJ Moir Stakes
The Valley blasts into spring G1 action with the running of the $750,000 AJ Moir Stakes WFA at 1000m, and it's always an exciting spectacle when a full field of flyers are going full bore on the turning track!