Described by co-trainer Ben Hayes as “a very keen horse”, Vega Magic has worked hard again in a solo gallop leading up to his Sydney race debut in Saturday’s $10 million The Everest 2017.
Memsie Stakes winner Vega Magic makes his Sydney debut in Saturday’s 2017 The Everest field at Royal Randwick. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Lindsay Park stable have three horses in the Restricted The Everest (1200m), a new initiative by the Australian Turf Club (ATC) that is now the richest race run on turf.
The 12-starter The Everest field features a host of star sprinters running for slot-holders that bought into the race at a cost of $600,000.
Three of The Everest slots are filled by Lindsay Park runners with Newmarket Handicap winner Redkirk Warrior, the roughie-priced filly Tulip and Vega Magic.
Lope De Vega gelding is a former Perth-trained galloper is still owned by WA connections.
A winner of 12 of his 17 career starts to date, the chestnut is currently the equal $6 second favourite along with Chautauqua in The Everest odds at Ladbrokes.com.au that are led by Gary Portelli’s first-up Moir Stakes winning filly She Will Reign ($4.60).
Vega Magic first raced for Lindsay Park in Adelaide back in May and made an immediate impact winning Morphettville’s Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m).
“When we got him we knew we had a good horse after he did a piece of work with a good city class horse of ours and he beat him by about eight lengths,” Hayes told Racing NSW.
“So we were confident going into the Goodwood he could win.
“We keep asking the question and he keeps producing.”
He has won both of his races since with back-to-back Caulfield victories this time in including the impressive one and three-quarter length success over Black Heart Bart in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m).
Kept fresh since to help the horse run his best over the 1200m in the weight-for-age The Everest field, Vega Magic races for Max Whitby and will have Craig Williams in the saddle on the weekend.
Williams has had two previous starts on Vega Magic for the two Group 1 victories and is out to make it a hat-trick on Saturday.
Hayes gave Vega Magic a solo gallop at the Randwick course proper on Monday morning, Redkirk Warrior also working solo with the former putting in too much effort when up against other horses in his work.
“Vega Magic has always been a very keen horse, he destroys the horses we work him with so he does most of his work by himself,” Hayes explained
“He does too much if you have him with company.”
To back Vega Magic to upset the filly She Will Reign in The Everest 2017 results at the right price visit Ladbrokes.com.au.
