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Begg Hoping Unbeaten Filly Brings The Magic Again

By Ray Hickson

Trainer Grahame Begg says at this stage the sky’s the limit with unbeaten filly Magic Time as she strives to make it four from four at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Grahame Begg. (Pic: Steve Hart)

The three-year-old was a dynamic winner of the PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) on Day 1 of The Star Championships and Begg sees no reason why she can’t make it a Randwick double in the Group 3 $200,000 MostynCopper James HB Carr Stakes (1400m).

It’s been a case of patience paying off with Magic Time. Begg tread warily with her at the start of the season, delaying her debut until October, and she’s responded with three impressive wins.

“She was ready to go in August last year but we weren’t 100 per cent happy and thought she needed more time, so we backed off and didn’t produce her until October,’’ he said.

“She’s just kept on stepping up to the bar every time we’ve raised it.

“We don’t really know where her ceiling is at this point in time. She’s taken every step and taken it in her stride.”

Magic Time struck a heavy 9 in the PJ Bell and was still able to produce a strong turn of foot to reel in the leaders at the 100m and race on to a 1-1/4 length win.

In her only other second-up start she won over 1400m at Flemington.

Punter’s Intelligence recorded her last 600m in a race best 36.40 on the heavy ground in the PJ Bell, a length faster than Opal Ridge, who she will meet again on Saturday, and a powerful last 200m of 12.61 which was two lengths faster than the next best.

“That’s one trait she’s shown every start, she’s always very strong through the line,’’ Begg said.

“On the line is the best part of her race.

“She sat three wide outside the lead when she won at Flemington and she ran away from them at the finish so 1400m is no worries for her.”

The filly, $1.85 with TAB on Wednesday, has pleased Begg since her first-up win and given she was fresh there can expect her to take improvement into Saturday’s race.

Whether the Carr is her final run this season will be determined post-race with Begg leaving the door open at this stage to tackle the Queensland Guineas later this month.

“We’re very happy with her. She’s a light framed, a big leggy, athletic, sort of filly,’’ he said.

“She had a nice gallop on the course proper at Randwick (on Tuesday) and went through her gears nicely and she’s done everything we’ve asked her to do.


Magic Time wins at Randwick on April 1

“After this there’s an option to give her a break and get her ready for the spring or push on and go to Brisbane with her.”

Meanwhile, Begg said Passive Aggressive has returned home following her unplaced run in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes and she’ll be given her opportunity at a Group 1 in Adelaide in May.

“She’s been home a week and she’ll get ready to run in the Robert Sangster,’’ he said.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting

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