Magnapal puts Daniel Bowman back into the spotlight at The Valley
EIGHT-YEAR-OLD gelding Magnapal hasn’t been in the stable for long, but it has already put the Daniel Bowman racing stables back in the spotlight on Saturday.
The son of Magnus entered the race as a seven-time winner from 54 starts, but it hadn’t crossed the line first since 2015. That all changed on Saturday in the LF Sign Group Handicap when the $21 shot at CrownBet burst through for the overdue win.
Comeback jockey Nikita Beriman didn’t have the easiest ride during the run, but the gaps opened at the right time and she sprinted through for the memorable victory.
“He’s been a tricky horse,” she said. “He jumps well, but comes off the bridle – he did that today.
“It’s just lucky that I got that split late.
“He dug deep and I’m rapt to be back on him.”
The premier win was a welcome return for Beriman, who has been helped back with the support of some major Victorians stables.
“I have a great manager, she’s one of my best mates,” Beriman said. “Without that and a good support team from the Eurell and Shea Eden Stables, but it helps when they’re well prepared.”
The win also propelled Warrnambool trainer Daniel Bowman back into the city spotlight – his first winner since June.
“We’ve had a quiet 12 months, but we haven’t had many horses going to the races,” Bowman said. “To get a horse like this late in his career, it keeps you in the spotlight and keeps owners interested.”
Bowman thought Magnapal should have won last time out, but not everything went its way. Punters failed to take note and were duly burned as the well-backed runners found trouble in the straight.
“He was a bit flat second up and got knocked over last week. We came here thinking he’s a chance,” Bowman said, who is now targeting some major races throughout the spring carnival.
“If his rating gets high enough he’ll go to the Naturalism and then the Cranbourne Cup,” Bowman said. “He’ll be competitive in them based on today and he’ll get in with around 54kg.”
There were some unlucky runs in behind Magnapal, most notably Foundation which couldn’t get a run at them in the straight when it appeared to be travelling on the turn.