Michael Dee is heading to the Gold Coast to trial multiple Group 1 winning mare Magic Time ahead of her first run in Brisbane.
The Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on June 1 is the race trainer Grahame Begg has picked out to run Magic Time in first-up in Brisbane, coming off a win in the Group 1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick at her most recent run.
How Magic Time performs in the Kingsford Smith will determine whether the mare presses on further into the Queensland Winter Carnival or is sent for a spell.
Race options for Magic Time are the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 15 and the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm two weeks later.
“She trials at the Gold Coast on Tuesday and then she runs in the Kingsford Smith, and we’ve got options that will be determined by her run in the Kingsford Smith,” Begg said.
“We could go Kingsford Smith – spell, Kingsford Smith – Stradbroke, Kingsford Smith – Tatt’s Tiara.
“There’s nearly a month there, so we’ll see where she’s at, how the tracks are up there, but we’ve got to be mindful, there’s so many riches in the spring, especially in Sydney.”
Begg indicated Magic Time was likely to campaign predominantly in Sydney during the spring, although he has not completely ruled out racing her in Melbourne.
Magic Time campaigned in Sydney last spring after starting off in Melbourne, winning the Group 3 The Nivison (1200m) at Rosehill before running third in the $2 million The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick.
She then returned to Melbourne to win the first of her two Group 1’s, the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
“I would say she is unlikely to race in Melbourne, but I wouldn’t say she won’t race in Melbourne, but more likely Sydney,” Begg said.
“There’s that $2 million mares’ race in Sydney and she goes so well that way, so we’re mindful of all that and they don’t get a long time off, these horses.”
Begg said the trial at Gold Coast on Tuesday would top the mare off nicely for her run in the Kingsford Smith 10 days later.
“Michael Dee is going up to ride her,” Begg said.
“It’s an official trial on the ‘B’ grass. We’ve galloped on it twice. It’s a tight track, but it’s OK.”