Trainer Brian Smith had double cause for celebration after former crock Za Magic broke a 2-1/2 year drought at Doomben on Saturday.
Smith, 70, announced his engagement to local Brisbane veterinarian Emma Bishop on the same day Za Magic scored a 3-1/2 length win over Winmara in the Hidden Dragon @ Lyndhurst Open Handicap (2200m).
Za Magic has been injury prone throughout his career and registered his first win since claiming the Listed Sunshine Coast Guineas at Caloundra in 2009.
“I’ve just got engaged and I’m very proud,” Smith said.
“And she’s a New Zealand girl.”
Smith, a former Kiwi who has overcome adversities with cancer, considered retiring Za Magic after the six-year-old failed over 1500 metres at Eagle Farm last week.
“It was D-Day last week for him but he held on well to run ninth and wasn’t beaten that far,” Smith said.
“He’s had problems all his life with tendons and joints.
“He came back into work and didn’t show us much but we’ve kept persevering.
“As a three-year-old he was a very good miler (1600m) but when Ryan (Wiggins) got off him last week he said he raced more like a two miler.”
Meanwhile Gold Coast mare Big Girls Dont Cry could prove a winter carnival hope on wet tracks following her win in the Sky Racing Handicap (2100m).
Big Girls Dont Cry cruised to a two length win over the Clandy Man Can.
Trainer Mel Eggleston was in Papua New Guinea on business but his brother and the mare’s part-owner Andrew was delighted with the victory.
“We sent her to Peter Moody in Melbourne after the Prime Minister’s Cup but she had no end of trouble down there so I asked for her to be sent back home,” Eggleston said.
“She’s a very smart horse who we tried to get to the Oaks as a three-year-old.
“But she’s had problem after problem.”
AAP TURF
