American Magic has had a bit of a rap on him since he stepped onto the racetrack as a two year old a year ago.
But a combination of a bad race day experience, some minor setbacks and bad draws, has meant he hadn't lived up to that reputation. But that all changed today.
"As a two year old he won two workouts in a row then we qualified him. We then took him to the races and one of the other horses run into him and the cart hit him on the backside. He dived forward and went down on his nose. He got such a fright. He was sore after that so we just turned him out. When I was bringing him up he had stone bruises… you name it he had it. Then he got three shitty draws this season and it makes all the difference," said trainer and part-owner Murray Brown after the gelding won at Ascot Park today.
Going into today's race there was a fair amount of confidence in the camp after he'd impressively won a workout last Friday at Winton in which he led all the way with blinds on.
The blinds remained on today and when he drew barrier one and secured the services of New Zealand's leading reinsman Dexter Dunn, the confidence heightened. In his race he either led or trailed the leading horse, eventually winning by three quarters of a length.
American Magic with Dexter Dunn beating Maidonthebeach – Photo Bruce Stewart.
"All the family have won their races in front. He goes around the corners so well now, so if he draws good he could win again."
The American Ideal gelding is raced by the Watch Your Step Syndicate which consists of Brown, Cleland Murdoch, Alan Lindsay, Trevor Ryder, Dave Kennedy and John Hishon.
Winning connections – Photo Bruce Stewart.
Brown bought American Magic's grandmother Watch Your Step from John Stormont. She was an American bred mare by On The Road Again. When he bought her she had a colt foal at foot by In The Pocket and was in foal to that stallion. The foal at foot was Stopwatch which won his only start here before being exported to America where he won plenty of races. The dam of American Magic, Cher Magic, is Watch Your Step's sixth live foal. She is by Christian Cullen and won once from just six starts.
The Syndicate raced Cher Magic's first foal Chers Bettor Babe which won four races for Brown before heading to Australia where she's won another six. Her next foal Chers Magic Jet was also sold to Aussie and American Magic is the mare's next foal. The following two foals by Bettors Delight and Well Said have sold at the national sales.
Bruce Stewart
Southland harness racing