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By Gary Harley

Three-year-old colt Magic ($2.30 favourite on TAB), a close second to Best Of Bordeaux in the Group 2 Silver Slipper in February, travels to Newcastle on Tuesday for his second start this preparation.

Magic resumed on August 18 in an 1100m Hawkesbury maiden on a Good 4 track and he settled a long way back in a large field.

Magic (William Pike) finishes second to Best Of Bordeaux at Rosehill Gardens. Image by Bradley Photographers

The horse made good ground in the straight and he was doing his best work late when beaten 2.3 lengths.

On Tuesday, the colt contests the Avid PM CG&E Maiden Plate (1300m) with Brenton Avdulla aboard for the Hawkes stable.

The way he raced at Hawkesbury, Magic will appreciate the longer trip and will be fitter.

The Snitzel colt had three starts in his two-year-old season, all on heavy and soft tracks. He came from a mile back to finish half a length behind Best Of Bordeaux in the Silver Slipper on debut, and second-up he was placed behind Rise Of The Masses in the Pago Pago.

Magic was then unplaced in the Sires' Produce before a spell.

James McDonald is making the trip to Newcastle for one ride for Chris Waller.

J-Mac has the mount on the highly promising four-year-old Narito ($1.70 fav) in the Sage Painting Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m). The son of former Japanese star Maurice had his only race start at Wyong on August 16.

McDonald rode him and after enjoying a nice trail behind the speed, he raced clear to win by 2 lengths over the 1100m trip.

This horse will be more at home on the spacious track and will appreciate the longer trip on Tuesday. McDonald was full of praise for Narito after the Wyong win.

The Michael Freedman-trained colt Backrower ($1.50 fav) looks a standout in the Lees Racing Class 1 Handicap (1400m). The three-year-old ran on from midfield when he was a Newcastle winner on debut in May.

In his only other two starts Backrower has been placed at Rosehill on soft tracks. Last start on August 13 he stormed home to be beaten a half head by Manzoice.

The colt has a soft barrier and Tommy Berry has the mount.

John O’Shea and Hugh Bowman combine with the mare Ruinart, early $2.20 favourite in the Coastline Pools And Spas F&M Maiden Plate (1300m).

Ruinart is talented but frustrating for connections as she has been placed in four of five starts. She has had two starts at Newcastle for two placings and her last start was on this track in February.

Ruinart comes into this race following a quiet Randwick trial in which she closed off nicely.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Newcastle here