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
Magnus
2
0.2
Robrick
- 4g Invader (AUS) x Dorotea (AUS) (Lope De Vega (IRE))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Zac Spain 54
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $220,000
Seller: Valiant Stud, Aberdeen
Buyer: Ontrack Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd
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
Magnus
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...
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
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,
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
Exciting Farnan Colt Wins for Mulberry Racing
A standout in the mounting yard on type at Randwick on Saturday, Farnan colt Nashville Jack has also been an eye-catcher at the recent trials in Sydney and he delivered on potential when resuming from a spell with a stylish win.
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 - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Ole Kirk’s Daughter Ole Dancer
Successful in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge on debut back in March, the Peter Moody and Katherine Colemen trained filly Ole Dancer resumed at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m) to remain unbeaten.