Smooth Sailing for Magnus's Halvorsen in Standish Handicap

Mark Smith - Wednesday January 1

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.

Celebrating his first black-type victory Halvorsen was re-united with the now Queensland-based jockey Andrew Mallyon for a one and a quarter length win over the favourite Bold Star with Superhard another three-quarters of a length away third.Halvorsen earns his stakes win - images Grant Courtney

"We still haven't reached the bottom of him, he just needed to fill out and mature and stop over-racing and now it’s getting exciting,” Mallyon said.

“I still think this horse is untapped, he still wears earmuffs and things like that. We haven’t got to the bottom of him, which is probably the most exciting part.”

Halvorsen's part-owner Don Healy said they have Group 1 aspirations for the 4yo son of Magnus.

   "We bred this horse, Robbie and I and the other part-owners," Healy said.

"We raced the mother, Flourishing, and we raced the granddam. So, it's really good when you see a Group III win and it's a credit to everybody.

“Robbie is up in Queensland (Magic Millions) looking for yearlings to buy so this will increase his confidence levels .Halvorsen a powerfully made son of Magnus

“I love Andrew he has a fabulous record on this horse, he knows him, he loves him, so it is really good.

Advertisement

“We will see how he pulls up. The (Listed) Kensington Stakes here in 10 days we will probably do that otherwise he will have a break and then have one start into the Goodwood if possible.”

The winner of his last three starts Halverson advances his record to 7 wins, 3 seconds and 2 thirds from 17 starts with earnings of $577,000.

He is the best of two winners out of the talented Not A Single Doubt mare Flourishing a 4-time winner in Melbourne who is a half-sister to the stakes-winner Beltrois (Bel Esprit) who finished second to Royal Ida in the Standish ten years ago.

Flourishing has an unraced 2yo Unencumbered filly named Halvoya a colt foal by Magnus and was bred to the Sun Stud stallion again last spring.

Halvorsen becomes the 21st stakes-winner for the prolific Magnus who has just one lot catalogued for the Magic Millions and five at the Inglis Premier.

Advertisment

Race Result - Standish Hcp Gr3 1200m

Flemington Track: Good(3) Time: 1:10.24
1
Halvorsen
- 4g Magnus (AUS) x Flourishing (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: R D Griffiths Rdr: A Mallyon 54
2
1.3
Bold Star
- 4g Needs Further (AUS) x Alzahra Star (AUS) (Danewin (AUS))
Tnr: G V Richards Rdr: D Dunn 54
MM Tasmanian Yearling Sale $0
Seller: Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas (As Agent)
Buyer: Withdrawn
3
2.1
Superhard
- 5g All Too Hard (AUS) x Royal Season (AUS) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: J D Sadler Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
All Too Hard
4
2.2
Snitzkraft
- 5h Snitzel (AUS) x Power O'Raylee (AUS) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: John Allen 56.5
5
2.9
Guizot
- 7g Tertullian (USA) x Guantana (GER) (Dynaformer (USA))
Tnr: Aaron Purcell Rdr: Ms L J Meech 55
6
6.2
Smart Coupe
- 5m Smart Missile (AUS) x Coupe (AUS) (Spinning World (USA))
Tnr: M Ellerton & S Zahra Rdr: Damien Thornton 54
7
6.9
Choisborder
- 5g Choisir (AUS) x Borderline (AUS) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: D Yendall 54
8
31.9
Spirit Of Valor
- 6h War Front (USA) x Stone Hope (USA) (Grindstone (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: M Zahra 59
More Reading...
Pedigree Watch – G1 and 3YO Up and Comers
We’re looking at a broodmare sire punching above his weight, a mare that hit the target with her fifth foal and Melbourne Cup contender with a serious stallion pedigree.
French G3 Winner for Zoustar
The Group III Prix des Chenes (1600m) at Chantilly in France overnight produced a new stakes-winner for reigning champion Australian sire Zoustar with talented two year-old Oceans Four claiming his first Black Type win.
Sires With Winners - Sunday September 21
Here is the full list of 66 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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.
Written Tycoon Filly Bursts into NZ 1000 Guineas Contention
The Gr.3 Sunline Vase (1400m) was expected to be the weekend’s key pointer for the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), but a spectacular performance on the Ellerslie undercard had its own impact on fixed-odds betting for the Christchurch classic.
Pedigree and Stakes Potential Make This Mare One to Follow
Is it possible to buy a yearling filly bred by a leading G1 producing farm, sired by a proven champion from the Dancing Show family for under $100,000? Yes it is!
Keeneland September Concludes with Record $531.5 Million in Sales
The 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale closed Saturday having achieved a defining industry milestone. Over 12 sessions, the sale rewrote records by selling 3,070 horses for a total of $531.5 million: the highest gross ever realized at a Thoroughbred auction worldwide. Historic highlights included 56 yearlings bringing seven figures, besting the previous record of 40 set in 2005 and led by a $3
Derby and Oaks Previews Fall to The Autumn Sun
The Flemington meeting on Sunday was the scene of the VRC Derby and Oaks Previews run over 1800m to offer budding stayers a pathway forward to spring staying riches in coming months and both races were won by 3YO’s sired by The Autumn Sun.
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.
Aussie Mare Youngstar Produces Rising Japanese Staying Star Eri King
Australian Group I winning half-sisters Youngstar and Funstar are both at stud in Japan and the former has a very smart three year-old colt in Eri King, who won the Group II Kobe Shimbun Hai (2400m) at Hanshin on Sunday.