Magic Time Wins G2 Expressway for Yulong

Tara Madgwick - Saturday February 15

The $300,000 Group II ATC Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday marked the return of Group I winning mares Joliestar  and Magic Time, with the latter carrying the Yulong colours to a thrilling win.

Magic Time wins the G2 Expressway Stakes - image Bradley Photography

Trained by Grahame Begg and ridden by Jordan Childs, Magic Time looked awkwardly placed after turning for home, but when she was able to find clear running the daughter of Hellbent hit the line hard to score a long neck win over Iowna Merc with Joliestar a close up third.

“We were worried about Joliestar obviously, but she’s (Magic Time) going extremely well and she’s in for a great prep,” said Grahame Begg.

“She goes to the Canterbury Stakes (1300m G1) in three weeks and then we’ll work it out from there maybe a George Ryder (1500m G1 ) or back to the All Aged (1400m G1).”

Magic Time is back as a G2 winner at her first run for 2025 - image Bradley Photography

Magic Time was bred and raced originally by John and Trish Muir's Milburn Creek Thoroughbred Stud after failing to make her $150,000 reserve at the 2021 Magic Millions. Purchased privately last year by Yulong, she has the overall record of seven wins and four placings from 17 starts with earnings topping $2.8million.

Advertisement

Magic Time is the best of three winners from three foals to race from Group III winning Nicconi mare Time Awaits and is a half-sister to Group I placed Henlein and smart metro winner Cosmonova.

Time Awaits has no yearling for the sales this year, but produced a colt by I Am Invincible last spring before visiting Snitzel.

Magic Time is the highest stake earner for Yarraman Park’s Hellbent, who has sired the winners of over $6million so far this season.

Advertisment

Race Result - Expressway Stakes Gr2 1200m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 1:10.07
1
Magic Time
- 5m Hellbent (AUS) x Time Awaits (AUS) (Nicconi (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Jordan Childs 57
Hellbent
2
0.3
Iowna Merc
- 5g Winning Rupert (AUS) x Mercedes (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: J Parr 56
3
0.6
Joliestar
- 4m Zoustar (AUS) x Jolie Bay (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55.5
Zoustar
4
1
Olentia
- 5m Zoustar (AUS) x Mabkhara (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J R Collett 55.5
5
1.7
Airman
- 5g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Zara Bay (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tyler Schiller 57.5
6
1.9
Givemethebeatboys
- 4h Bungle Inthejungle (GB) x Dromana (IRE) (Dutch Art (GB))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: Tim Clark 56.5
More Reading...
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
Bold Showing Tipped for Yes Yes Yes 2YO
Speed Demon will be given every opportunity to live up to his name when he makes his debut at Ellerslie.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
First Group 1 for Winner for Hellbent as Magic Time Dominates in Sir Rupert Clarke
A career high for the top-class Hellbent mare Magic Time when she unleashed a withering finish to capture Saturday's $1,000,000 Group 1 Neds Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 23
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Dual G1 Winner Magic Time Purchased by Yulong
The Grahame Begg trained Hellbent mare Magic Time will run in new colours on Saturday in the $500,000 Group II ATC Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) with breaking news on Friday confirming her sale to Yulong.
Hellbent Mare Cracks $3million with G3 Cockram Victory
When Grahame Begg has talented mare Magic Time ready to fire first up she rarely misses and the six year-old daughter of Hellbent produced her A game at Caulfield on Saturday to win the Group III MRC Cockram Stakes (1200m) as favourite.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
$400,000 Invincible Filly a Grand Investment
A three-quarter sister-in-blood to dual Group I winning mare Charm Stone, stakes-placed I Am Invincible filly Naifah always looked well bought at the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $400,000.