Trainer Grahame Begg has some thinking to do with Magic Time after her impressive first-up win at Caulfield.
Defying the pattern of the day, Magic Time charged home to claim the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) on Saturday with Begg declaring the mare has loads of improvement to come.
Original plans had been for Magic Time to head towards the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 20, a race she won in 2023.
But Begg fears the six-year-old may now be weighted out of that contest.
Sent out the $3.90 favourite under Michael Dee, Magic Time scored a three-quarter length win from Miss Roumbini ($6) with Abounding ($17) a long neck away third.
Begg said he would head home and look over options for Magic Time who along with being a Group 1 winner in Melbourne also has a Group 1 victory in Sydney to her credit.
“There are options in Sydney as well, so we’ll work it out,” Begg said.
“She might be outweighed in the Rupert Clarke. She was a 112-rater going into today’s race, so we’ll have to work that out in the next few weeks, but there’s now hurry to run her.
“This mare still has a good deal of improvement to come.
“Her coat is still nowhere near right yet. She’s still holding on to a good deal of her winter coat.
“That will come in the next few weeks, but the stimulation of a race day will bring her on greatly.”
Begg praised the ride of Dee who allowed the mare to settle back in the field before producing her wide in the straight.
“He showed patience. He had her in a good rhythm. He trusted her ability and got her over the line,” Begg said.
Dee said it was good to be reunited with Magic Time after Jordan Childs rode the mare in Sydney at her last campaign.
“I’ve had good success aboard her, and I’m lucky enough to get back aboard her this prep,” Dee said.
“It played out a little bit differently than we anticipated today. They went a bit quick for her and she was struggling a little bit early.
“I was able to get to the outside in that three-wide line which she more or less prefers, and we saw that good turn of foot that she’s always got.”
