Rey Magnerio Triumphs in Always Welcome Stakes in a Thriller

Mark Smith - Saturday November 9

Second in the Group II Millennium Sprint and runner-up seven days ago in the Group III Rising Fast Stakes, Rey Magnerio earned a well-deserved stakes success in Saturday’s  Listed Cirka Always Welcome Stakes at Flemington. Still, for connections, it proved another heart-stopper.

No win more deserved (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Jye McNeil for Robbie Griffiths and Matt de Kock, Rey Magnerio staged a three-horse war with Front Page and Robrick down the Flemington straight.

The 5-year-old gelded son of Magnus gained a short-head advantage over the dead-heaters Front Page (Magnus) and Robrick (Invader).

Advertisement

With his stakes breakthrough, Rey Magnerio advances his record to seven wins, three seconds, and three thirds from 16 starts with earnings of $537,300.

Matt De Kock said Rey Magnerio’s spring is not over just yet.

“We’ve got the slot race at Cranbourne planned for him, so we' ll head that way,” de Kock said.

“It was looking like another good run, but not a winning run, but credit to the horse, he’s really, really tough and for him to poke his nose through at the end just gives us a lot of joy.

“We’ve always been confident in the 1200 (metres), that’s no problem. He won the 1100 metre race on this day last year, but you can see today that he was really tough through the line, so there was no problem with the distance.

“It makes it a good celebration anyway, but we thought he’d win last Saturday, but he was unlucky and at Caulfield the time before.

Jye McNeil said the son of Magnus thoroughly deserved the win.

“He’s always thereabouts and is very honest today, McNeil said.

“He landed a bit closer and I was concerned because that left me without cover, but he found a nice rhythm. When I got near Front Page and then Robrick came from behind me, that surged him and made him even more competitive, and that was enough to get over the line at the right time.

What a warrior (image Grant Courtney)

“He has a little bit of a split personality. He can come out and just totally flop it and not travel at all, and then fly home, or he can come out and actually go a little bit strong and still be strong at the end of the race, so whatever he does, I’ve sort of just got to go with him and hope that it all works out.”

A three-quarter brother to the Group III Naturalism Stakes winner Magnapal, Rey Magnerio is the best of two winners from three to race for the Testa Rossa mare Luchardo, sister to stakes-placed Red For Lou, the dam of Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Le Chef.

Luchardo has a yearling filly by Star Witness and was covered by Shamus Award last spring.

Rey Magnerio is the 30th black-type winner for the late Widden Stud stallion Magnus, who died last year after covering eight mares and has three fillies and two colts on the ground. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Cirka Always Welcome Stakes LR 1200m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:09.26
1
Rey Magnerio
- 5g Magnus (AUS) x Luchardo (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Jye McNeil 55
2
0.2
Front Page
- 8g Magnus (AUS) x Stacey Lee (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Dale Rdr: J B Mc Donald 59.5
2
0.2
Robrick
- 4g Invader (AUS) x Dorotea (AUS) (Lope De Vega (IRE))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Zac Spain 54
4
0.7
Nadal
- 4g Xtravagant (NZ) x Moshki (AUS) (Moshe (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: M J Dee 54
5
1.7
Barber
- 4g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Trim (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Craig Williams 54
6
2.2
The Astrologist
- 8g Zoustar (AUS) x Aquada (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: L & T Corstens & W Larkin Rdr: J Mott 56
7
2.9
Moby Dick
- 4g Toronado (IRE) x Queen Of The Sea (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Damian Lane 54
8
4.2
Overactive
- 5g Awtaad (IRE) x Hyperactive (GB) (Rip Van Winkle (IRE))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Declan Bates 54
9
4.4
Nicolini Vito
- 7g Nicconi (AUS) x She's Cherryrype (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: L Currie 56.5
10
4.6
Red Hot Nicc
- 6g Nicconi (AUS) x Glorious Red (AUS) (Red Element (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: H Coffey 54
11
4.9
Umgawa
- 6g Shamus Award (AUS) x Express Central (AUS) (Undoubtedly (AUS))
Tnr: L & T Corstens & W Larkin Rdr: Patrick Moloney 54
12
5.6
Crosshaven
- 7g Smart Missile (AUS) x Irish Colleen (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: C Newitt 54.5
13
20.6
Mr Exclusive
- 9g Magnus (AUS) x Purple Butterfly (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Brown Rdr: Ms J Kennedy 54
More Reading...
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
Karaka Million Dreaming for Out of the Blue
Te Akau Racing marketing manager Julia-Rose Hayes has had plenty of success syndicating horses selected by her father, David Ellis, and that has continued with her latest syndicate.
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
Magnus Gelding Rey Magnerio Shines on Debt
Few trainers have more success with the progeny of Widden Stud’s evergreen stallion Magnus than Robbie Griffith, and he looks to have unearthed another likely type in Rey Magnerio.  
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Goffs Orby Day 2 - Trio of Million Dollar Yearling Fillies
The second day of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale took off overnight with three individual yearlings selling for a million or more with the full sister to dual Group I winning champion 2YO Colt Blackbeard selling for €1.9 million to MV Magnier.
She's Unusual Keeps Good Times Rolling
Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.
Rey Looking For Group Ones Now
Magnus sprinter Rey Magnerio will aim for Group I status after scoring his biggest win to date in the Group II Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday,
Kiwi Raider Pier Upbeat Ahead of Epsom
Co-trainer and part-owner Darryn Weatherley is taking a glass half full approach ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) after he came up with an awkward wide gate for Pier.