Magnatti extends winning run at Sandown
The horse trainer Wez Hunter describes as his best youngster of last season has kept her winning record intact at Sandown.
While saying Magnatti was the best of his two-year-olds last season, Hunter resisted the temptation to rush her until she turned three.
Magnatti made it two wins from as many starts when successful in the Dream Thoroughbreds Handicap (1000m) on Wednesday.
Ridden by apprentice Michael Dee, Magnatti ($3.60) scored by a length from the $3.50 favourite Magnetar with Hot Seat ($6) another length away third.
“She was the pick of my young ones,” Hunter said.
“It’s nice when you’re right once in a while.
“Everything we’ve done with her she’s taken to without any worries and copes with things really well.”
Hunter said he deliberately took his time with Magnatti, saying she was a big filly as a two-year-old, but one that had not grown much since.
“She was quite a strong two-year-old and looked like a colt, so we looked after her,” Hunter said.
Magnatti scored a soft win over 1000m on debut at Mornington earlier this month and was again successful over that trip at Sandown.
But Hunter has no doubts the filly will appreciate a step up in distance at her next campaign.
Just where her next start will be, Hunter said he would let Magnatti tell him.
“That’s her first trip away from home and she handled it no worries,” Hunter said.
“We’ll see how she pulls up and then make a bit of a plan.
“That was pretty soft today but you never know how they will respond if they get pressured, whether they can go again.
“But I think she’s pretty good. I want to look after her and I think next time in she’ll get seven furlongs (1400m).”
Magnatti was a $130,000 yearling at the 2015 Melbourne premier sale and was syndicated to a group of the trainer’s friends with breeder Rob Crabtree retaining an interest.
“It’s great to have Rob Crabtree in your camp,” Hunter said.
Dee moved to within two winners of outriding his 1.5kg claim with Magnatti’s victory.
His apprenticeship finishes on December 24.
“She’s a nice filly with a lot of talent,” Dee said.
“She’s very fast and I think with a bit more time she’ll strengthen up that little bit extra.”