Racing: Magneto for Merlion

Classy Argentine-bred sprinter-miler MAGNETO showed he would be a horse to reckon with in the new season when he made a winning comeback in the $125,000 Kranji Stakes A race over 1,200m at Kranji on Sunday.

Ridden by regular partner Nooresh Juglall, the Footstepsinthesand four-year-old capitalised on his customary gate speed to jump from the widest alley and put half a body in front after 100m.

Huka Falls (Michael Rodd) and Happy Money (Barend Vorster), however, kicked up on his inside, to make the even-money favourite work even harder.

But Juglall did not relent and, though he did cut across a little sharply, he was able to find the plastic after 300m.

Once this hard part of the job was covered, Juglall could take a seat and allow his mount to come back under him, with Happy Money and Huka Falls still in close attendance.

With a lapful still under him, Juglall waited till the 400m mark to let down the handbrakes.

Huka Falls was the first to concede defeat, while Happy Money tried to conjure a counter-attack but to no avail as Magneto had already cruised away to a handsome lead.

Cavallo (John Sundradas) did put an indent into the margin but it was too little too late, as Magneto comfortably won by one and a quarter lengths.

Indian Jade (Craig Newitt) finished third, two lengths away.

The winning time was 1min 08.74sec for the 1,200m on the long course.

Following that sparkling display, trainer Patrick Shaw was quick to pencil in a start in the Group 3 Merlion Trophy over 1,200m, the first Leg of the Singapore Sprint Series, on March 15.

FEET PROBLEM

"He had to go very hard early. Nooresh had to use him up from barrier 11, but his class saw him through," said the South African trainer.

"He's a horse who's had feet problems and it was good to see him come back and win first-up.

"I will now run him in the Merlion Trophy on March 15."

Juglall was above all thankful for the association he has established with the Avengers Stable-owned galloper.

"I'd like to thank the owner Mark Yong, Pat and (assistant-trainer) Ricardo (Le Grange) for giving me the chance to stay on such a good horse," said the Mauritian jockey, who won his only Singapore Group race aboard Magneto in the Group 3 Committee's Prize over 1,600m last September.

"They could have taken me off when I went away for five weeks in December but they've been good to me and kept me on him.

"It's been a lot of hard work to bring his horse back with all the feet issues he's had and he's such a tough horse to ride in trackwork.

He never settles and to just hold him back at a canter over two laps is hard work.

"But it's paid off in the end, even if I would say he's probably only around 60-70 per cent fit. Today's 1,200m was not ideal as he's more of a 1,400m-1,600m horse and I had to use him up early in the race to come across.

"He was easing up towards the end as he had had enough but he still did a good job to win first-up. He will take a lot of improvement from that run and I hope he can win a big race this year."

Magneto has now brought his earnings close to the $370,000 mark.

This article was first published on Feb 24, 2015.
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