Eight-year-old Magnapal has pressed his claims for a crack at another Naturalism Stakes with his first win in two years at Moonee Valley.
Having his fourth start since being transferred to Warrnambool trainer Daniel Bowman, Magnapal ($21) appeared to be under pressure approaching the home turn in Saturday’s LF Sign Group Handicap.
But he picked up under jockey Nikita Beriman, sprinting through when a gap came in the straight.
The gelding got home by a long neck over Lord Durante with a head to Killarney Kid third.
Magnapal won the 2015 Group Three Naturalism Stakes (2000m) when trained by Terry and Karina O’Sullivan, and Saturday’s win was his first victory since.
“He just needed a change of scene and to get over a few little niggles down at the beach,” Bowman said.
Bowman said Magnapal struck interference in the straight in last week’s Heatherlie Handicap at Caulfield and needed to win on Saturday to get his rating up in a bid to make the Naturalism Stakes field in two weeks.
“If he can get a run in it, that’s where we’ll go,” Bowman said.
“He’ll go to the Cranbourne Cup after that and I think he’ll be competitive in both, based on today.”
