Co-owner Wally Daly believes only bad luck will see their 2017 Memsie Stakes favourite Vega Magic beaten in Melbourne’s opening Group 1 race of the new season on Saturday.
Vega Magic will step out in Saturday’s Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
Formerly prepared in W.A. by Sean Casey, the speedster is now prepared by the David Hayes-led Lindsay Park stable and has a flawless record for his new trainers.
Daly said he and brother George, a former Group 1 winning Perth trainer, chose Lindsay Park to take over the training of the Lope De Vega gelding based on their location at Euroa, which replicated the rural conditions the horse was used to back in Perth.
“Of course, Sean was a bit upset to lose the horse, but he realises now he had to go east; it was no good staying in Western Australia,” Daly told Racing Victoria this week.
“I thought that the time was right to take a chance.
“I just think he’s the ideal horse.”
An ultra-consistent performer, Vega Magic has to date enjoyed 11 wins from 16 starts for over $1.4 million in prize money.
His debut for David and Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig was on May 20 in Adelaide’s Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) where he enjoyed a three-quarter length victory.
Vega Magic went to the paddock after that, returning as a five-year-old a fortnight back at Caulfield Racecourse where he carried a hefty 60.5kg to victory in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m).
That performance and an ideal barrier three draw for his return to the track on Saturday has Vega Magic dominant favourite to take out the Group 1 $1 million Memsie Stakes (1400m).
Proven over the distance having won the Group 3 A.J. Scahill Stakes (1400m) back at Ascot by two lengths last December, Vega Magic has his The Goodwood winning hoop Craig Williams back aboard on the weekend.
The latest Memsie Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au list the galloper as the firming $2.50 favourite and Daly believes that is a fair price.
“He’s got a good cruising speed, which means he can be up out of trouble,” he said.
“I’m always confident he’ll acquit himself well and it’s really only bad luck [that would stop him performing at his best].
“He’ll never disgrace us.”
Four of the past favourites in Memsie Stakes betting have saluted for the punters including the Darren Weir-trained Black Heart Bart last year, who returns on Saturday to defend his title.
Black Heart Bart is in gate five this year second-up off a third in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) and is the $5.50 second elect.
Other key Memsie Stakes hopefuls looking at the current markets include Kris Lees’ triple Group 1 winner Le Romain ($6.50) in his Melbourne debut and Australian Guineas winner Hey Doc ($7) out to be the first winner of the race from the inside barrier since Bundy Lad back in 1994.
Check out the full Memsie Stakes 2017 odds and betting options now at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of the top spring racing markets.
