Magic Alibi will make the from Sydney to Queensland for the second time this month, only this time trainer Gerald Ryan hopes to get her to the races.
The mare was sent north to run at the Gold Coast meeting on May 4 but those plans were abandoned when the heavens opened and the track came up heavy.
Magic Alibi is a duffer on ground worse than slow so rather than waste a run, Ryan brought her home and went to Plan B.
“She was up there at the Gold Coast to run in the Silk Stocking and it came up a heavy 10 so I scratched her and brought her straight home,” Ryan said.
“She went to Scone on the following Saturday and she ran huge.”
Magic Alibi flashed home from last for fourth to Viridine in the Listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m) at Scone’s stand-alone Saturday meeting and returns to fillies and mares grade for the Group Three Grinders Coffee Roasters Stakes (1300m).
She has raced well in Queensland in the past, although Saturday will be her first time around Eagle Farm, a track Ryan expects to suit the backmarker.
“I think her best form is probably on bigger tracks, although she has won around Ipswich and run really well around the Gold Coast,” Ryan said.
“But she’s had good form at Rosehill and her run at Scone on the big track was terrific so I think Eagle Farm will suit her.”
Magic Alibi, a $34 chance, is likely to be having her final run for Ryan as she is due to be sold at the Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale next week.
Godolphin mare Savatiano was the $3 equal favourite on Thursday, sharing top billing with the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Quilista, who will back-up from an all-the-way Listed win at Doomben last week.
