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Stratum four year-old Stratford scored his second Magic Millions raceday success in as many
years when he romped home in today's $100,000 Sky Racing Magic Millions Class 6
Plate (1200m).
A winner last year of the rich Magic Millions Maiden Plate, Stratford was back
twelve months later to do it again, this time in the Class 6 event.
And already connections are eyeing off history by winning a race at a third
straight Magic Millions raceday in 2013.
Connections decided to head to the Gold Coast after also accepting for the
classy galloper in last night's Canterbury Classic. Such is Stratford's
reputation that he opened early favourite for that stakes event.
The four-year-old, prepared by Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes, was heavily
backed in today's Magic Millions event and was ridden to success again by top
local jockey Jason Taylor.
"He was a little bit tardy early," co-trainer Michael Hawkes said.
"The first couple of strides he got back a little.
"When he came to the corner and he was behind them a bit I did hold my
breath.
"He had to angle out
and he did and when he balanced up he was very good it was all over at the 100
(metre mark)."
"We've always had a good opinion of the horse. We originally bought him
for the two-year-old race but he went sore.
"He's done a great job and hopefully we'll bring him back next year for
the (Magic Millions) Cup."
Hawkes said they would get their talented gelding back to Sydney and he would
most likely run in three to four weeks.
"We'll take him through his grades, but he's a nice horse and we're having
a lot of fun with him."
Stratford was purchased by his senior part owner David Russo for $130,000 at
the 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Segenhoe Stud draft.
The lightly raced but
highly promising galloper has already earned his connections over $260,000 from
just eight runs - of which he's won four and been runner-up on two other
occasions.
By former star Magic Millions graduate and Golden Slipper winner Stratum(pictured),
Stratford is one of six winners produced by the grand True Version mare Celebration
Bell.
A city winner in her own right, Celebration Bell is the dam of the stakes
winners Whoever and Speedy Bell - the latter being the dam of Adrian Knox
Stakes winner Speedy Natalie.
Class: Class 6. Track: Good. Time: 1:09.66. Sectional Time: 0:34.67 at 600m. Prizemoney: $100,000 - 1st: $57,000 2nd: $15,000 3rd: $7,500. |
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| 1 | 10. Stratford | M, W & J Hawkes | J L Taylor (5) |
$1.80
|
54.5 |
||
 4g Stratum
x Celebration Bell
(True Version
)Not Offered |
|||||||
| 2 | 2.3 | 9. State Of Wealth | B J Smith | R Mc Mahon (2) |
$8
|
54.5 |
|
|
3c Ad Valorem (USA)
x Girona
(Giant's Causeway (USA)
) Not Offered |
|||||||
| 3 | 0.8 | 3. Devinardi | T Bailey | S Galloway (4) |
$21
|
56.0 |
|
|
4g Minardi (USA)
x Just Devine
(Just Awesome
) Not Offered |
|||||||
| 4 | 3.5 | 4. Dux Bellorum | R L Heathcote | D J Browne (7) |
$13
|
56.0 |
|
| 4h General Nediym x My Moccasin (USA) (Belong To Me (USA) ) | |||||||
| 5 | 3.6 | 2. Spirit Of Flatley | K C Wood | C Munce (6) |
$11
|
57.5 |
|
| 5g Invincible Spirit (IRE) x River Dance Queen (Snippets ) | |||||||
| 6 | 5.6 | 8. Negombo | A G Scorse | C W Brown (8) |
$31
|
54.5 |
|
| 5g Strategic x Sri Lanka (Sri Pekan (USA) ) | |||||||
| 7 | 6.1 | 7. Free Dive | R P Northam | R Thompson (9) |
$17
|
54.5 |
|
| 6g Statue Of Liberty (USA) x Our Teneriffe (Kenvain ) | |||||||
| 8 | 7.4 | 1. My Elixa | T Bailey | M Rodd (3) |
$16
|
59.0 |
|
| 5g Johannesburg (USA) x Shavano Miss (Hand Crafted ) | |||||||
| 9 | 10.2 | 6. Falls Creek | Ms G Heinrich | G Schofield (10) |
$51
|
54.5 |
|
| 5g Dehere (USA) x Snowfall (End Sweep (USA) ) | |||||||
| 10 | 12.2 | 5. Griffon | R L Heathcote | J Byrne (1) |
$3.50
|
56.0 |
|
| 6g Flying Spur x Jeune Girl (Jeune (GB) ) | |||||||
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