Caulfield Cup Distance No Issue For Magnapal

Magnapal is yet to record a race win over 2400 metres, but trainer Terry O’Sullivan is confident that the tough stayer will have no problems running out the 2015 Caulfield Cup distance this weekend.

Magnapal earnt a place in the 2015 Caulfield Cup field with his win in the Naturalism Stakes. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Magnapal earnt a place in the 2015 Caulfield Cup field with his win in the Naturalism Stakes. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Magnapal has gone to another level during his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign and he took out the Wolfpack Handicap (1400m) at Sandown on August 12 and the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield on August 29 before he earnt ballot-exempt entry into the Caulfield Cup with a win in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on September 19.

The Magnus gelding has not won in his four previous starts over 2400 metres, but O’Sullivan could not be happier with the physical condition of the six-year-old ahead of the 2015 Caulfield Cup and he is confident that the rising stayer will tough it out to the line.

“He has always been a very good winded horse and a lovely relaxed horse,” O’Sullivan told Sky Racing Radio.

“We rode him pretty quiet in his early days and he relaxes really well in his races and that is pretty much the key to staying horses.

“We haven’t pushed him that hard, we tipped him out for a bit over three months and he has been really good since he came back.

“He is absolutely pain free and he has been racing that way.

“He has proved that he can run the mile and a half and we are pretty happy with him up to 2400 metres.

“He has had a great campaign this time in and things have just fallen into place really well for us.

“Moonee Valley we blamed the firm track the other night, but he has come through it very well and he is really good at the moment.”

The 2015 Caulfield Cup field was released this morning, but the barrier draw will be not be conducted until tonight, which means a nervous race for O’Sullivan and the other connections of Magnapal.

O’Sullivan admits that Magnapal has had plenty of luck with barrier draws during his 2015 Spring Racing, but he is hopeful that luck can continue and Magnapal receives an inside Caulfield Cup barrier draw.

“That is the good thing about him, he can begin and take up a good handy spot and then relax,” O’Sullivan said.

“I would love to draw inside eight, but that is up to the owner.

“He is picking up the Cup tonight and I said that it is his fault if we don’t draw well.

“You just hope and pray that you draw well, but he has used up a bit of luck.

“He hasn’t drawn a bad barrier this time in and it makes us a bit nervous.”

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.