Ashburton trainer Duncan Howells is not a man to rate his horses before they do the talking where it really counts. He was typically guarded, although spiced with a hint of mild excitement, when reflecting on the victory of his Australian-bred Foxwedge colt Roy’s Magic in Sunday’s R150 000 KZN 3yo Series 1400 at Scottsville.
It’s a thriller as Roy’s Magic (Warren Kennedy) flies up to beat My Pal Al (Marco van Rensburg) and Palladium (Anton Marcus)
Owner Roy Moodley’s familiar white, orange and emerald green silks have been parading on the KZN racetracks for many years and his 23 runners between Greyville’s Friday Quickfire meeting and the Scottsville Sunday show this weekend were enough to give the local racecallers night sweats.
The potential confusion factor for the men tasked with sketching a mental picture of the race is aggravated by the fact that in recent years they are all called ‘Roy’s’ something or the other – although, we must concede that it is Mr Moodley’s prerogative to name his runners whatever he chooses – within the NHA rules, naturally.
The wealthy businessman supports a cross-section of yards and while Duncan Howells has trained his horses in years gone by – Royal Zulu Guard is one decent one that springs to mind – Roy’s Magic is one of a batch of the first 2yo’s to be entrusted to him.
Roy’s Magic ran green throughout Sunday’s non black-type feature, before asserting his authority to finish best under a determined Warren Kennedy to beat the Ali Gordon trained recent maiden breaker My Pal Al by a head in a time of 83,42 secs.
Warren Kennedy is all smiles after earning his commission to get Roy’s Magic up to win nicely
Listed Gatecrasher Stakes winner Palladium was always in the box seat and had every chance, finishing 0,15 lengths further back in third.
Gr1 winner Gunner was in obvious need of the run and made late ground to run a 2,50 length fifth. He can only come on with this outing under the belt.
Trainer Howells confirmed to the Sporting Post that Roy’s Magic was an ‘immature, big horse’ who would not be making the trip North to his newly established Gauteng satellite base.
“He has plenty of learning to do and only racing will aid that. While he is very progressive, and I believe in time will prove himself to be well above average, I will expose him via handicaps and then aim for the Highveld season in early 2017,” said the astute horseman.
A son of Gr1 winning sprinter Foxwedge, Roy’s Magic has speed on both sides of his pedigree, but Howells sees him as a miler in time.
“He showed no speed in his early work. On debut he wasn’t ready, yet showed some pace and finished third. That was above expectations and he came on with the benefit of that run, to win well enough at his second start. He once again improved dramatically and I really fancied him to win on Sunday. I told the connections that only greenness would beat him.”
The very scopy Roy’s Magic has won twice from his three starts and took his stakes earnings to R154 775.
While he appears to have been purchased privately – he was passed out of the ring at a top bid of A$34 000 (reserve was A$40 000) at the 2015 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale and then passed at A$20 000 (reserve was A$30 000) at Magic Millions three months later – he looks well found and could be an exciting horse in the making.
His sire Foxwedge has grabbed an early lead on the Australian Second Season Sires list by earnings with a burst of spring winners, including Gr2 scorer Foxplay and stakes-winner Kentucky Miss. The Newgate stallion stands this spring at a fee of $22 000.
Duncan Howells – something decent on his hands
Bred by SF Bloodstock LLC NSW, Roy’s Magic is out of the four-time winning daughter of Hussonet, Wild Storm, who won from 1200m to 1500m at 2 in Chile and the USA.
Based on the way he won, and on his trainer’s quietly bullish comments, he is one for the medium term notebook.
Mr Moodley was back in the winner’s enclosure two races later as Roy’s Air Force closed the meeting with mist and darkness enveloping the Scottsville track.
The Paul Lafferty-trained son of King’s Apostle proved his last run all wrong after having pulled hard under Collen Storey, and he won the MR 74 Handicap well in the hands of the fast improving claimer,Diego De Gouveia.
It wasn’t an easy day at the tote, with a few first-timers popping up unexpectedly and bumpy results sending punter’s exotic aspirations into a nosedive.
