Magurtz primed to atone for disappointing return from spell
Neil Evans
A promising three-year-old is set to turn things around with punters and connections in the closing race at Monday’s Gunnedah meeting.
Magurtz will face the starter for only the fifth time when he takes second place in the Class 1 Handicap race over 1,250m on a difficult track.
It’s been two weeks since he failed to shoot as he returns from a 12-week break in a deeper Grade 1 over 1000 meters at Muswellbrook.
That day, after being well supported from $4.20 to $3.10, Magurtz seemingly got lost in the field on a changing surface.
He was late to beat only one runner at home but was still four lengths clear of the talented winner Arapawa.
Tassort’s son Magurtz, who has raced only twice, opened nearly $3 in early betting. He could be in for a big day at the Scott Singleton stable at Scone when he finds a race with less depth on more ground.
In mid-January, the gelding delivered a tough performance at Muswellbrook, where he excelled in only his third start, beating the smart filly La Potenza and then stormed out as a big favorite in his next start at Dubbo.
Regular jockey Christian Reith was replaced by Mikayla Weir, fresh off her Grade 2 Speedway win at Saturday’s independent Hawkesbury meeting.
The Singleton stable will face a double attack at Gunnedah.
Previously lightly raced filly Quirky Princess looks set to open her account in just her fourth outing in a moderate Benchmark 58 Handicap over 2150m.
He charged home to narrowly miss out by more than a mile two starts back at Tamworth, then came close again as he moved up sharply in the Grade 1 at Tuncurry over 16 days.
Provided by Racing NSW
