Peaking Magic Time spells danger for rivals in Hot Danish Stakes
Grahame Begg is banking on improved fitness levels and a different circuit helping Magic Time turn the tables on Belclare when the pair face a rematch in the Hot Danish Stakes.
Magic Time tried hard but was unable to reel in Belclare in The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick last start, finishing just over a length astern of the winner.
Begg admits her Bjorn Baker-trained conqueror will prove hard to catch again in the Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday, but he also believes Belclare might have enjoyed some favours last start.
“The leader will probably be hard to pick up again, Belclare, the way it went. It ran probably a career-peak the other day and we’ve taken good benefit,” Begg said.
“At Randwick the other day, it was a bit of a fast lane up the inside. Leaders were extremely hard to pick up and they ran nearly a track record.
“Even if you were just two lengths off them, you couldn’t get them. We’re hopeful she can turn the tables on Saturday.”
Magic Time has a terrific record when Begg brings her to Sydney, winning three of her seven starts in the harbour city and placing on another three occasions.
Her highlight was a Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) victory, which she claimed third-up last autumn.
She will be having the third start of her current preparation in the Hot Danish where Begg says she will be at peak fitness.
“She has trained on well and she has taken benefit from what was her second-up run, first run in Sydney,” he said.
“It looks a good race for her.”
Begg confirmed Magic Time was having a light spring and would head to the paddock after Saturday, ruling out a seven-day back-up into the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, which she won last year.
More Racing News
Dan Morton keeps faith with 2024 Railway Stakes mare
Trainer Dan Morton has shrugged aside Super Smink’s horror barrier draw and still thinks she can win the Group 1 Swan Draught-Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday. A layer of complexity was added to Super Smink’s Railway Stakes bid after she was handed barrier 18, but Dan Morton is keeping the...
Timing right for Port Lockroy in G1 Railway Stakes bid
He’s one of five interstate raiders and the outsider of the quintet, but co-trainer, Rob Archibald believes there is a sense of timing about Port Lockroy in Saturday’s Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot. Rob Archibald, who shares training duties with Annabel Neasham, says Port Lockroy put himself into Railway Stakes...
Royal task for Gilded Water at local debut
A benchmark race on The Gong undercard will add some Royal flavour to the stand-alone Kembla Grange meeting when a horse owned by His Majesty King Charles III makes his local debut. Four-year-old Gilded Water has been sent to Australia to continue his racing career, having started just four times in the...
Improving trio to fly flag for Godolphin at Kembla Grange
Godolphin doesn’t have a representative in The Gong, but James Cummings is content to rely on a trio of up-and-coming sprinters to carry the stable’s hopes at the stand-alone Kembla Grange meeting. Fleetwood will headline the leading yard’s squad when he resumes in the Group 3 The Warra (1000m), while Pisanello and Restonica contest benchmark...
Jason Collett hoping to find Express lane in The Gong
Jason Collett is resigned to the fact that he will be more reliant on luck than good management as he tries to coax another win out of Territory Express in the $1 million The Gong at Kembla Grange. The Provincial-Midway Championships Final victor in the autumn, Territory Express has a get-back racing pattern...
Mark Walker aims for ‘new’ hometown Cranbourne Cup
Trainer Mark Walker has a good record when in form New Zealand gallopers land in Australia. Walker’s latest ‘import’ is It’s A Wild Night who will have his first Australian outing in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) on Saturday. It’s A Wild Night arrived at Walker’s Cranbourne base just over a week ago...
Trainer Gavin Bedggood chasing Fortune in The Meteorite
Gavin Bedggood hopes the decision to take Oscar’s Fortune to Cranbourne for a midweek gallop will pay off handsomely on Saturday. Oscar’s Fortune runs in the $1 million The Meteorite (1200m), a new ‘slot race’ that Southside Racing, a merged entity of the Cranbourne and Pakenham Clubs, runs for the first time. The former...
Railway Stakes 2024 timing perfect for Baker’s Bel
In-form mare Belclare will need to overcome a wide alley to land her first Australian Group One win in the Railway Stakes at Ascot, and connections believe Nash Rawiller is the perfect man for the job. A two-time victor at the highest level in New Zealand, Belclare joined the Sydney stable of Bjorn...
John Stewart eyes Melbourne with 2024 Japan Cup fancy
Goliath faces one of the toughest tasks in racing this weekend, beating the Japanese at home in their biggest race, but John Stewart is already planning his next moves with his star recruit and Australia is on the itinerary. The ambitious American has quickly become a powerful investor in Australian racing and...
Hedged poised to give The Warra rivals a trim-up
The Magic Millions carnival is the campaign focal point for promising sprinter Hedged, but trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are hoping he can knock off a feature race along the way. The gelding will resume in the Group 3 The Warra (1000m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday, his first start...
