MITRHYS Magic heads to Muswellbrook tomorrow week for his biggest challenge yet.
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The Ernie Mabbott-trained gelding won his second race at Tamworth Paceway on Thursday afternoon with a 5.25m win from Shesanutter (Darren Elder) in the Shoppingworld Newsagency Pace (1609m).
The three-year-old son of Ifihadyourluck had won his first race at Tamworth last August but some wayward manners had cost him dearly since.
“He screwed up the start at Newcastle a couple of times and here,” driver Anthony Varga said.
“We freshened him for this, changed some gear, and it all came to plan.”
Mitrhys Magic had been something of a “naughty boy” as a younger horse, snapping off sprinklers and hoses at the back yard of his owners, Noelene and John Varga.
Anthony Varga, their son, laughed about those skylarking instances.
“He was real playful,” he laughed.
“He’s dad’s pet. He’s always shown us a lot though.
“Yeah,” Mabbott said.
“He’s got untold ability.
“ We’ve sorted him out a lot more though – he’s started to race a lot better.
“We spelled him and he grew up a bit, in the brain too.
“Last year we had everything on him, now we’ve got hardly anything on him.
“We’ve also worked him a lot different too, changed his work around. He’s a lot more consistent.”
Mabbott said a Muswellbrook 3YO worth $8000 is in his immediate sights.
“That’s Sunday week, at their Carnival of Cups meeting,” he said.
“We’ll see how he goes in that.
“He’ll be up against nice horses.
“If he can beat them, then we can start planning some races with him.”
It was a good day for Mabbott as he also won with Itsa History Maker.
The former Kiwi was driven by Dean Chapple who also notched a double after winning earlier with the Peter Rippon-trained El Kay Grand.
Chapple looked like making it a treble when he rushed Alyeska Dream to the front rounding the home turn in the Tamworth Precisions Excavation Pace (1980m) only for the mare’s run to end quickly and Dubbo gelding, Sunofbula, to swoop for a 21st career win at his 169th start.
Feature race of the day was the $8000 Joan Bullock Memorial, a race won by Rod Pike with odds-on favourite Ima Player.
Leighmont won the main support race, the $6000 Bearing Accessories P/L Pace (1980m), for Hunter Valley driver Peter Hedges and Tamworth trainer Ken Natty.
They were also combining at last night’s Newcastle meeting with Gotta Feeling and Jedi Superstar who was up against Tamworth Cup winner Soho Eros.
Tamworth races again on Saturday, March 1 when it hosts a big charity night for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.