The thoroughly game Music Magnate will forever have a special place in the heart of trainer Bjorn Baker.
The 6yo son of Written Tycoon gave the Warwick Farm-based trainer his first Group 1 winner when successful in the 2016 Doomben 10000.
It has not been all plain sailing since and Music Magnate needed bone chips removed from both front fetlocks in May.
Making his first start since then, Music Magnate carried topweight of 61kg in Saturday's Listed Christmas Classic (1200m) at Randwick but proved a class above.
With Blake Shinn in the saddle, Music Magnate defied the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Dothraki (Mossman) by three-quarters of a length with the old warrior Isorich (Choisir) a neck back in third. (photo Steve Hart) .
The 6yo son gelding advances his record to 9 wins, 4 seconds and 1 third from 20 starts with earnings of $1,166,625.
"It's been a good team effort to get him back, he's overcome a number of hurdles, and been a great horse for the stable," Baker said.
"He had to work a little bit to get across. You'd think he's still a three-year-old sometimes with the way he races, he's got a mind of his own.
"But it's just good to see him come back and do that."
He is now likely to defend his title in the $200,000 Group II Expressway Stakes (1200m) on February 3 at Rosehill.
Music Magnate was a $45,000 purchase by his trainer from the Westbury Stud draft at the 2013 NZ Bloodstock Select Yearling sale.
He is the third foal of the Danehill Dancer (IRE) mare Concert Girl, a half-sister to Group II Wellington Guineas winner Marrok (Casual Lies) and the South African Group III winner Appeal Process (Volksraad).
The granddam of Concert Girl, Chalayer (Covetous), won the AJC St Leger and Group III Adrian Knox Stakes and placed in the Group 1 Sydney Cup, Group 1 VRC Oaks and Group 1 Canterbury Guineas.
Concert Girl has a yearling filly by Reliable Man (GB) that will be consigned by Westbury Stud to the NZB Premier Yearling Sale, beginning on January 28.
Concert Girl was bred back to Savabeel last spring.
Written Tycoon has 27 yearlings heading to the Gold Coast, 47 at the Inglis Premier and 7 at the Inglis Classic.
