Magic Time announced herself all over again at the start of spring, surging from the back to win the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) and leaving trainer Grahame Begg weighing up a next move that suddenly looks more complicated — and more exciting.
On a day when on-pace runners largely held sway, the six-year-old mare bucked the trend under Michael Dee, relaxing early before sweeping widest and reeling in the leaders with a decisive late burst.
Sent out a $3.90 favourite with horse racing bookmakers, she scored by three-quarters of a length over Miss Roumbini ($6), with Abounding ($17) a long neck away in third.
The original blueprint pointed at a return to the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 20 — a race she captured in 2023 — but her rating may force a rethink. As a dual Group 1 winner across Melbourne and Sydney, there’s no shortage of options if handicaps prove prohibitive.
“There are options in Sydney as well, so we’ll work it out,” Begg said.
“She might be outweighed in the Rupert Clarke. She was a 112-rater going into today’s race, so we’ll have to work that out in the next few weeks, but there’s now hurry to run her.
“This mare still has a good deal of improvement to come.
“Her coat is still nowhere near right yet. She’s still holding on to a good deal of her winter coat.
“That will come in the next few weeks, but the stimulation of a race day will bring her on greatly.”
Begg also tipped his cap to the ride — a cool, tempo-aware steer that kept the mare comfortable before unleashing her trademark turn of foot down the outer.
“He showed patience. He had her in a good rhythm. He trusted her ability and got her over the line,” Begg said.
For Dee, it was a welcome reunion after Jordan Childs partnered the mare in Sydney last prep. The race didn’t unfold exactly as mapped, but once he found the three-wide lane, Magic Time did the rest.
“I’ve had good success aboard her, and I’m lucky enough to get back aboard her this prep,” Dee said.
“It played out a little bit differently than we anticipated today. They went a bit quick for her and she was struggling a little bit early.
“I was able to get to the outside in that three-wide line which she more or less prefers, and we saw that good turn of foot that she’s always got.”
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