Isn’t Australian racing about to receive the greatest shot in the arm it’s ever had.
Which is a big call given what Phar Lap did for us, Shannon also when he won in the US, Black Caviar in England, Takeover Target in Japan and more recently Japanese superstar Lys Gracieux.
But to be fair, Winx has been vilified by the international press for years, which probably eased a fair bit when Lys Cracieux won the Gr 1 in Japan the other week, because she franked the Gr 1 Cox Plate at least.
But our other Gr 1s have always been looked upon by the ignorants in the UK and the US, as not as hard to win.
That all changes on the weekend, when the famed Pegasus Cup meet will be run at Gulfstream Park.
The superstar OMAHA BEACH is the favourite to win the big race but the $1million Pegasus Turf Cup is almost as important.
And here’s where Australia should bounce into the limelight.
MAGIC WAND, who was unplaced in our Melbourne Cup, but then came out and won the Gr 1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington beating New Zealand’s best galloper Melody Belle, is in this $1million race on the weekend.
She’s drawn the outside gate and champion jock Ryan Moore rides her. Straight after the race he flies back to Hong Kong to ride MORE THAN THIS in a Gr 1.
It still galls us all when you see the comments re horses who have raced in Australia though. This is what is written re the chances of Magic Wand in America’s Best publication: “ Had to wait a while to get to the morning-line favorite and that’s what might ultimately lead to a second straight runner-up finish in this race. This 5-year-old mare is a world traveler for famed European trainer Aidan O’Brien with a great record but a lot of things will have to work out right to put her in the winner’s circle from post 12. Since she’s the favourite, there’s better investments in this field.”
Cant wait to see her blow them all away.
In the main race, a charge to the first turn may upend a few hopes. There is lots of speed and the first bend is only 200m away from the start.
The race is worth US$3million.
Fox Hill Farms Omaha Beach the 7-5 favourite, the barrier draw presented no real problem as the son of War Front landed post 5 for the final start of his multiple Gr 1-winning career.
But the bolter of the field, $35 shot Bodexpress is in form and might just find the front and keep going.
