More than stamping her claims as one of the country’s leading female sprinters when beating a classy field to the line in Saturday’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot, trainer Jim Taylor has revealed he is eyeing a trip east to target further top-level success with talented mare Magnifisio over the 2015 Autumn Carnival.
Magnifisio beat a talented field to the line in the 2014 Winterbottom Stakes, including clear favourite Angelic Light (pictured). Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia
Jumping from the gates only fairly in the Winterbottom Stakes, regular rider Jason Brown settled Magnifisio off the pace of early leaders and clear favourites Angelic Light and Moment Of Change who set a noticeably quick tempo away from the barriers and rounding onto the final straight.
Displaying an exceptional turn of foot over the final 300m to find the fore of the pack and secure a maiden victory at the highest level of Australian racing, Taylor is confident the Magnus mare has the potential to out-do renowned stable mate Barakey when during her east coast tenure, and outlined events such as the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) as likely targets through the 2015 Autumn Carnival.
“She’s got something on Barakey; she’s a lot sounder,” Taylor told RSN.
“That’s why he can’t travel, because of his bad legs, but she’s a very sound horse and she probably could do that now.
“I think her pet distance is 1200, so when she’s meeting the good company I think I’d stick with 12.”
Claiming twelve race wins and a further six minor places over just 22 competitive appearances on course so far, Magnifisio perhaps gave the biggest hint as to what was to follow over the 2014 racing calendar when jogging home to win the Listed Summer Scorcher (1000m) on January 1st.
Returning to racing in typically slick form over a short autumn preparation, the mare out of Ifestio won both the Listed Northam Stakes (1100m) and Group 3 Roma Cup (1200m) before placing a credible fourth when hampered early in the Listed Beaufine Stakes (1000m) on July 12th.
Placing fourth behind subsequent Group 1 champion Elite Belle in the Group 3 Prince Of Wales Stakes (1200m) first-up this time, Magnifisio secured winning form leading into the Winterbottom Stakes on November 8th when poking clear to win the Group 2 Waroa-Lee Steere Stakes (1400m).
