It was a case of class rising to the top in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes, as Magic Time (Hellbent) picked up her third Group 3 victory to go with her two Group 1 wins, a Group 2 and Listed success. She was the clear highest-rated mare in the field and delivered a strong, authoritative performance under jockey Michael Dee.
There was plenty of early speed, with Geringong (Blue Point {IRE}) taking up the lead alongside the Group 1-performed Stretan Angel (Harry Angel {IRE}). As the race unfolded and the field peeled wide into the straight, it was Magic Time who charged down the middle of the track, asserting her class to beat Miss Roumbini (Zoustar) by three-quarters of a length. Abounding (Rich Enuf) ran on strongly through the pack to claim third, while Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) impressed with a fast-finishing fifth after coming from last in her Australian debut.
Trainer Grahame Begg was understandably pleased with the performance but noted there’s still more to come.
“This mare still has a good deal of improvement to come. Her coat is still nowhere near right yet. She’s still holding on to a good deal of her winter coat. That will come in the next few weeks, but the stimulation of a race day will bring her on greatly. That was a great result, and Mick rode her really well,” Begg said.
When asked about what could be next, he suggested there are plenty of options on the table.
“There are options in Sydney as well. We’ll work it out. She might be outweighed in the Rupert Clarke. She was a 112-rater going into today’s race, so we’ll have to work that out in the next few weeks. There’s no hurry to run her. She’s had a tough day at the office, but presented, but she also likes her races spaced too.”
Michael Dee, who resumed his association with the mare this preparation, echoed the sentiment about how well she is going.
“I’ve had good success aboard her and I was lucky enough to get back aboard her this prep. She’d been trialling up super, she’d probably more or less been flying under the radar a little bit and her trackwork’s been super,” Dee said.
“It played out a little bit differently than we’d anticipated today. They went a bit quick for her and she was struggling a little bit early. Lucky enough, I was able to get to the outside in that three-wide line, which she more or less prefers, and we saw that good turn of foot that she’s always got.”
Magic Time was passed in short of her $150,000 reserve at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling Sale and is the first foal out of Time Awaits (Nicconi), a talented three-time winner as a juvenile, which included success in the Gr.3 Sires’ Produce Stakes and the Listed Cinderella Stakes.
Time Awaits has had three foals to race for three winners, she has also left the talented gelding Henlein (Dundeel {NZ}) who has placed in the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes and the Gr.2 Bill Stutt Stakes.
In recent years, Time Awaits has produced a yearling colt by I Am Invincible, and is due to foal to Snitzel in early October.
Written for TTRAusNZ
