Rey Magnerio too strong in Gold Rush
Ultra-consistent sprinter Rey Magnerio (6 g Magnus – Luchardo by Testa Rossa) made his first step beyond 1200 metres a winning one when landing Saturday’s The Gold Rush (Gr 3, 1400m) at Ascot.
Trained by Robbie Griffiths, the six-year-old gelding had proven competitive in all three of his prior starts this campaign, winning the Caulfield Sprint (Gr 2, 1000m) first-up before third placings in both the Century Stakes (Listed, 1000m) and Winterbottom Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m).
Ridden by Western Australia’s leading jockey William Pike for just the second time in his career on Saturday, Rey Magnerio ran down long-time leader Overpass (Vancouver) and, having hit the front inside the final 50 metres, held off the fast-finishing Cosmic Crusader (Maurice) by 0.4 lengths.
Overpass finished a half-length behind the winner in yet another bold showing from Bjorn Baker’s $12 million earner.
“What a horse he is,” Griffiths said. “He’s just so much fun for all of us that are involved in him. His Winterbottom run, Willie [Pike] thought he was a bit unlucky and we waited to see how he came through that run before deciding on this race.
“But honestly it was an easy decision to make because the next morning he was bouncing around and felt great. He’s thriving in the WA climate and he’s only had the four runs this preparation so he’s still very fresh.
“We’ll be back for sure. He’s really taken to being over here so that’s a race [The Quokka] definitely on the agenda. Just really proud of the horse. He deserved that.”
Pike revealed he had learned from his first ride aboard Rey Magnerio when the pair were third in the Winterbottom.
“I think he waited a bit in the Winterbottom and there was a bit more that I could dip into today,” Pike said.
“So I took that into today and we got the chocolates.”