Music Magnate is ready to regain his Group One-winning form in the Kingsford Smith Cup
A strong track gallop has indicated multiple stakes winner Music Magnate is ready to regain his Group One-winning form in the Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm.
Music Magnate started his winter carnival with a strong win in the Group Two Victory Stakes (1200m) on April 29 before turning in the worst run of his career when last behind Redzel in the Doomben 10,000 over the same distance two weeks ago.
Trainer Bjorn Baker was quick to order a full examination of Music Magnate and got an all-clear from vets.
Baker then decided to press on into the winter with Music Magnate who won the 2016 Doomben 10,000 before finishing unplaced in the Stradbroke Handicap.
Race jockey Jeff Lloyd worked Music Magnate on Tuesday morning and reported the gelding felt good.
“I think you can ignore the Doomben 10,000 run. Nothing went right as I got in behind horses and then got on their heels and was pushed out of the race,” Lloyd said.
“I would hope to be a lot handier on Saturday.”
Music Magnate has drawn the second widest barrier with Jungle Edge to his outside.
Last-start all-the-way BRC Sprint winner Jungle Edge will be the key to the way the race is run and and is expected to cross and take up his usual front-running role.
The 56-year-old Lloyd broke the record for wins by a Queensland jockey at Ipswich on Wednesday but has only one Group One win in Queensland – the 2012 Tatt’s Tiara on Pear Tart.
The expat South African was based in Sydney from 2007 to 2009 then spent three years in Hong Kong before relocating to the Gold Coast.
In early 2013, Lloyd suffered a life-threatening, and what most thought would be a career-ending, stroke.
His comeback has been remarkable with the veteran winning last season’s Brisbane premiership and a runaway leader this term.
Lloyd has combined with Baker on a regular basis most notably for five wins on the now-retired Winning Rupert.
Baker’s racing manager Jack Bruce said the stable was confident Music Magnate could get back to his best.
“It was one of those things and he has pleased us since then,” he said.
“He has won on the new Eagle Farm surface and he was strong at the finish of the Victory Stakes,” Bruce said.
“Jeff gave us a good report after the trackwork. The horse is well and we are expecting better.”
