Why Robbie Loves Magnus

Mark Smith - Friday February 1

Back in October last year Robbie Griffiths claimed that he had trained 16 horses by Magnus and all were winners - you can add at least one more to the tally after pint-sized chestnut filly Magnicity broke her maiden over 1000 metres at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Advertisement


Making her first start in 12 weeks after a pair of midfield efforts at Caulfield in the Listed Inglis Debutant Stakes and Flemington in the Group III Ottawa Stakes in her first preparation, Magnicity had the unenviable task of taking the field up to Godolphin's speedball Vivaro.

Under pressure well before the home turn, Magnicity did not flinch under hard riding by Jye McNeil to edge Vivaro (Exceed And Excel) by three-quarters of a length with Sayumi (Sebring) a short-neck back in third.

"It was a really good effort because she came here off one soft trial and we chased a really strong speed," McNeil said.

"I thought she toughed it out really well to the line.

"I don't see a lot of difference with her physically, she might be a little stronger but she is still very small, but she is a very strong-minded horse and very good-natured, that's a key for her."

The daughter of Magnus was purchased by Griffiths Racing / CB Bloodstock for $70,000 from the Edinburgh Park draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale after Edinburgh Park has pinhooked her for $40,000 at the 2017 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale.

A three-quarter sister to Listed ATC James Carr Stakes winner Missy Cummings (Magnus), Magnicity is the third foal and first winner out of the 4-time winning Exceed And Excel mare A City Girl who is a daughter of the triple Listed stakes-winner Lady Knockout (Serheed).

One of Victoria's most popular stallions, Group 1 Galaxy Stakes winner Magnus covered 159 mares at Sun Stud last spring at a fee of $19,800.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Bold Maison Louis Resolute In Queensland Derby
The training partnership of John O’Shea and Tom Charlton continues to flourish as evidenced by a stable quinella in Saturday’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) as Maison Louis defeated King Of Thunder in a perfect result for the Sydney trainers.
Third Group 1 Victory For Zoustar’s Sensational Joliestar
Cambridge Stud's outstanding Zoustar mare Joliestar was simply sensational, charging late to win the $1m BRC Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm, her third Group 1 victory.
Capitalist Colt Records Back To Back Wins
Off the back of an explosive victory last time out at Hawkesbury when breaking his maiden by just shy of four lengths, Nathan Doyle’s Hidden Motive (Capitalist) justifiably jumped the short-priced favourite in the $160,000 Precise Air Handicap (1100m) at Randwick.
Cosmic Fire a New SW for Cosmic Force
Sunshine Coast trainer Billy Healey was thrilled to have a stakes-winner on a big carnival day at Eagle Farm with his talented Cosmic Force three year-old gelding Cosmic Fire soaring to new heights when taking out the $200,000 Listed BRC Queensland Day Stakes (1200m).
Magnus Gelding Kemalpasa Rewarded for His Consistency
They don’t come much more honest than the 4yo Magnus gelding Kemalpasa who took his record to seven wins from his last 10 starts when opening his stakes account in Saturday’s Listed Durbridge Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.
Smooth Sailing for Magnus's Halvorsen in Standish Handicap
Robbie Griffiths has not been in the best of health in recent times but if he needed a pick-me-up he found it with his homebred Magnus gelding Halvorsen who had the honour of being the first stakes-winner in Australia in 2020 when he powered to victory in the Group III Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
First Stakes Success For Zoustar’s Zaszou
Becoming the second stakes winner of the meeting for Widden Stud’s Zoustar, the Philip Stokes trained Zaszou captured the $160,000 Listed BRC Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) in a photo finish.
Group Two Winner for Magnus
Sun Stud’s Magnus started the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington on a winning note when his progressive sprinter Kemalpasa made light of the wet conditions to score a stylish win in the Group II VRC Linlithgow Stakes (1200m), a race won by his sire back in 2006 when it was known as The Age Classic.
Kemalpasa Takes Revenge on Behemoth in Durbridge Stakes
Two of South Australia’s finest faced off for the second time in the Listed Durbridge Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville on Saturday and it was Kemalpasa who reversed the decision over his old foe Behemoth.
New Stakes-Winner for Snitzel – Stradbroke Possible
The Listed $160,000 BRC Spear Chief Quality (1500m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday delivered a new stakes-winner for champion sire Snitzel with progressive four year-old gelding Transatlantic taking victory as a well backed favourite.