Rejuvenated galloper Semper Magico (NZ) (Per Incanto) continued a sparkling run of form when he strode clear for a decisive victory in Saturday’s John Turkington Forestry/Waipine Logging Bulls Country Cup (2040m) at Wanganui.
In the hands of apprentice Jessica Allen, who made good use of her 3kg allowance to reduce the topweight’s 60kg impost to a more manageable 57kgs, the eight-year-old cruised along nicely in the trail throughout despite over-racing in the early stages of the contest.
The Mark Oulaghan-trained son of Per Incanto snuck through on the inner of pacemaker Illusion of Paris at the 600m and when Allen sent him clear shortly after straightening he powered away to win easing down by three lengths at the finish.
Oulaghan believes maturity has been a key factor in the gelding’s impressive form of late and was impressed by both the win and the ride by Allen.
“He stuck at it well yesterday and won quite comfortably in the end,” Oulaghan said.
“It was a lovely ride by Jess as she gets on well with him and managed to get him to settle in a nice rhythm all the way.
“He is a horse who used to do a lot wrong, over-racing and the like, so a little bit of time has been his friend, while he probably wasn’t the soundest as well.
“He seems to have grown out of that and has really hit his straps during this campaign.”
Oulaghan is planning on one more start in this campaign before sending Semper Magico for a summer break, with the Listed Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m) this coming Saturday the target.
“He raced all through the winter so has been up for a long time,” he said.
“He seems to have come through yesterday well so we might go to Wanganui for the Cup and then he can have a good break over the summer where the tracks will get a little firm for him.
“If he strikes a similar surface to what he got yesterday then he can be very competitive and I think the way he is going there are a few more wins left in him for when we bring him back in the autumn next year.”
It was the fifth win in the last eight starts for Semper Magico who Oulaghan races with wife Penny and also bred with his mother Pam out of their Group Three-winning mare Semper Fidelis.
He has now won nine of his 42 career starts and brought his career earnings to more than $243,000.
