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 – Cranbourne
Larneuk Stud’s value Lonhro sire Impending only just missed a century of winners last season and was quick to keep the momentum going with a promising debut winner at Cranbourne on Friday in the Laurel Oak Bloodstock colours.
Impressive New Winner at Goodwood for St Mark’s Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had a number of high profile yearlings sold at the European sales last year and one of them was a filly from Angelic Light that made 600,000 guineas at Tattersalls October Book 2.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for last season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end this season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
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 - Friday August 1
Here is the full list of 35 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Two from Two for Magic Time - First Stakes winner for Hellbent
Magic Time made the quantum leap from a maiden win on the Pakenham Synthetic on debut to a dominant performance in the Listed The Amanda Elliott (1400m) on Champions Day at Flemington to become the first stakes-winner for Yarraman Park Stud's Hellbent.
Glorious Goodwood Day 3 – Flag Start Can’t Stop Wootton Bassett
The Group I Nassau Stakes (1m2f) for fillies and mares was the highlight on the third day of Glorious Goodwood and very nearly didn’t happen at all given the ‘biblical’ rain and a flag start for the five runners that braved the treacherous conditions.
One to Watch – Kembla
The Myracehorse owners that braved the cold and damp conditions at Kembla on Friday were well rewarded when their Farnan gelding Ninja trotted up to win by a widening 11 lengths!
Farnan Friday – Winning Double
Farnan sired 14 first crop winners last season to be leading first season sire by winners and his first two runners on Friday both came out and won at Kembla giving him the perfect start to a new racing year.
Hellbent Mare Magic Time Wins G3 Nivison
Grahame Begg had Group success in Sydney during the autumn carnival with talented Hellbent filly Magic Time and she returned as a four year-old mare to win the $250,000 Group III ATC The Nision (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.