King Magnus pushes All-Star Mile claim at Cranbourne trials
A contingent of quality gallopers stepped out at the Cranbourne trials on Monday morning, including All-Star Mile contender King Magnus.
A total of 23 heats will be contested throughout the day, but all eyes were on the first four trials.
In the opening heat of the day, Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young’s Moonee Valley Vase winner, Forgot You, stepped out for the first time since the Victoria Derby, winning the 990m 2YO & Up Trial.
The colt got back to the second half of the field and came down the middle of the track to win by 1.5 lengths over Junipal and Zouy’s Comet in what was a bunched finish.
Forgot You is expected to resume at Flemington on February 19 in the C.S. Hayes Stakes (1400m) before pushing on to the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m).
Also in that trial was Victoria Derby winner Hitotsu, who is set to resume in the Australian Guineas on March 5, as well as talented stayer Ain’tnodeeldun.
Hitotsu was tucked away on the inside of horses before getting into his best work late and running past his rivals after the finishing line, while Ain’tnodeeldun closed off impressively in what was his first hit-out since Melbourne Cup Day 2020.
In the following heat, King Magnus led throughout to win the 990m trial over Extreme Flight and Rich Hips.
King Magnus won his trial today. We'd love the Cranbourne community to vote for our home-town hero in the All-Star mile. If you do so and send us proof via email you can also win a CTC membership for the next twelve race meetings! Vote here https://t.co/O2oF1k0yFN pic.twitter.com/bvnVDBRdOI
— Cranbourne Turf Club (@CranTurfClub) February 7, 2022
The Cranbourne Cup winner has not been seen at the races since that victory on November 13, a fortnight after running an eye-catching fifth in the Group 1 Cantala Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Derby Day.
The Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock-trained gelding is currently on the cusp of gaining a start in the All-Star Mile, sitting 13th on the voting leaderboard.
In Heat 4, 2021 Inglis Millennium winner Profiteer towelled up his rivals, pulling away for a 2.25-length win over 800m.
Profiteer very much pleased @MickPriceRacing with this mornings @CranTurfClub trial. Raced off the rail but showed good speed to win by just over two lengths. Jockey @blprebble rode this morning and will ride Profiteer in the group one Lightning @FlemingtonVRC
— Andrew Bensley (@AndrewBensley) February 6, 2022
The Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained speedster sat wide throughout under Brett Prebble but proved far too slick, defeating Tycoon Humma and Archipeta Beach.
Profiteer is set to resume in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington in just under two weeks’ time, where he will meet the likes of Nature Strip, Eduardo and Home Affairs.
Anthony & Sam Freedman have a strong hand later on in the card, with Argentia and Delphi set to kick off their autumn campaigns.