Magnus Hits a Hot Streak

There are lots of reasons why Magnus is currently working through his biggest (and arguably finest) book of mares this spring.

At Ascot on Saturday afternoon, there were another 457,500 reasons when Magnifisio was … well, simply Magnifisio in taking out the Group One Winterbottom Stakes.

It was the first attempt at racing's most elite level for the Jim Taylor mare, although she had previously won five from seven black type events, including the Group Two Lee Steere at her most recent try.

Rich eastern state plums clearly beckon for this speedy lass who has now taken her earnings to well over the $1 million mark.

Magnus can do little wrong: although this too was the first Group One victory among his progeny, he also has 5-time stakes winner Platinum Kingdom, Prettyhappyaboutit, Alpha Beat and Missy Cummings all successful at black type level. But it's 2014 that has been a year to remember and one which has truly established Magnus as one of the best stallions in Victoria … certainly his earnings of $1.6 million this season alone place him among the elite company.

Starting the day with an emphatic win by Magnus Effect at the Ballarat Cup meeting, the lightly raced Malibu Style almost gave Magnus a stakes double at Ascot when a fast finishing second to Liberty's Gem in the Listed Placid Ark.

Trained by Neville Parnham, this was Malibu Style's first tilt at black type but it clearly won't be his last.

Indeed, the Placid Ark proved to be an Eliza Park International 'quinella' with, as the name might suggest, Liberty's Gem being a son of the value plus stallion, Statue of Liberty.

With two wins and a second from three outings, Liberty's Gem is really on the way up and this was Statue of Liberty's 16^th stakes winner.

Not surprisingly, both Magnus and Statue of Liberty are hugely popular speed sources – particularly in WA – where Magnifisio has had plenty of support from the likes of Magnus Missile and now Malibu Style, while race fans still thrill to the performances of Statue of Liberty's world champion male sprinter, Hay List.