Last season’s stakes placed two-year-old Magill showed he is coming up well in a new campaign with a comfortable win at Monday’s (October 12) Hastings jumpouts while Stranger, Le Zain Bolt and a Super Seth two-year-old were other impressive winners.
There were 10 heats run up against the inside rail on the course proper, where the footing was rated as soft after more rain over the weekend.
Magill contested an 800m heat and proved far too good for four maiden rivals, with jockey Liam Kauri having a firm hold of the son of Farnan as he crossed the line 2-3/4 lengths clear. His winning time of 48.8s was easily the fastest of the three 800m heats.
Magill has not raced since finishing a gallant second behind Australian raider Dream Roca in the Listed Karaka Millions Two-year-old Classic (1200m) at Ellerslie back in January. He was given a lengthy spell after that run and has since been gelded.
Stranger recorded the fastest time of the two 1000m heats when scoring by two lengths and clocking 1:01.15. He is an unraced three-year-old by US Navy Flag in the stable of Mick Brown and Sue Thompson.
Le Zain Bolt is the name of a two-year-old colt by Hello Youmzain in the Lowry/Zydenbos stable who scored a decisive two length win in an 800m maiden heat and clocked 49.41s.
A two-year-old gelding by Super Seth out of Call Me Evie looked to have plenty in reserve when winning a 400m heat by 1-1/4 lengths, in a time of 27.34s. He is another in the stable of Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos.
Successful jockey Kate Hercock was back riding at the jumpouts after undergoing ankle surgery and kicked home the last two winners. She said the ankle has recovered well and expects to have a clearance to resume race-riding by October 26.
“I’ve just got to lose some weight but that shouldn’t take me long. It’s only a couple of kilos,” she said.
RESULTS
Heat 1, 2YR-OLD, 400m: Eighty Eight (Bree Kersel) 1, Sweynesse-Oscar’s Shadow filly 2, Per Incanto-Shezzadream filly 3. Four starters. Margins: 8 lengths, long head. Time: 25.30s. Winner trained by Dean Howard, Hastings.
Heat 2, 2YR-OLD, 400m: Vanbrugh filly (Caitlin Johnson) 1, Armory-Maria Dior filly 2, Staphanos-Dragonfly gelding 3. Four starters. Margins: 3/4 length, 2-1/4 lengths. Time: 28.59s. Winner trained by Caitlin Johnson, Hastings.
Heat 3, 2&3YR-OLD, 400m: Super Seth-Call Me Evie gelding (Lily Sutherland) 1, Tarzino-Dream On filly 2, Super Seth-Rosehip colt 3. Four starters. Margins: 1-1/4 lengths, 3 lengths. Time: 27.34s. Winner trained by Guy Lowry & Leah Zydenbos, Hastings.
Heat 4, MAIDEN, 800m: Le Zain Bolt (Lily Sutherland) 1, Bold Affair 2, Jim Dandy 3. Four starters. Margins: 2 lengths, long neck. Time: 49.41s. Winner trained by Guy Lowry & Leah Zydenbos, Hastings.
Heat 5, MAIDEN, 800m: Ghibellines-Barter 3yr-old gelding (Lily Sutherland) 1, Derryn 3yr-old filly 2, Per Incanto-Farrelly 3yr-old filly 3. Five starters. Margins: 1-1/4 lengths, 2 lengths. Time: 49.44s. Winner trained by Guy Lowry & Leah Zydenbos, Hastings.
Heat 6, OPEN, 800m: Magill (Liam Kauri) 1, Mongolian Falcon 3yr-old gelding 2, Turn Me Loose-Sacrosanct 3yr-old filly 3. Five starters. Margins: 2-3/4 lengths, 2 lengths. Time: 48.80s. Winner trained by Guy Lowry & Leah Zydenbos, Hastings.
Heat 7, MAIDEN, 1000m: Abbytakesitall (Kate Hercock) 1, Worlds Gone Mad 2, Half Share 3. Four starters. Margins: 1/2 length, 1-1/4 lengths. Time: 1:03.3. Winner trained by Mick Brown & Sue Thompson, Hastings.
Heat 8, MAIDEN 1000m: Stranger (Jim Chung) 1, Vanbrugh-Tweet 3yr-old filly 2, Ardent Belle 3. Four starters. Margins: 2 lengths, 3-1/2 lengths. Time: 1:01.15. Winner trained by Mick Brown & Sue Thompson, Hastings.
Heat 9, OPEN, 1200m: Derryn-Tammy Wynette 3yr-old gelding (Kate Hercock) 1, Vanbrugh-Indiscretion 3yr-old gelding 2, Sniff 3. Three starters. Margins: 2 lengths, 1-3/4 lengths. Time: 1:14.44. Winner trained by Tayla Hall, Hastings.
Heat 10, OPEN, 1200m: Mount Cook (Kate Hercock) 1, Exit Left 2, Charlunga 3. Four starters. Margins: 1-3/4 lengths, 2 lengths. Time: 1:14.03. Winner trained by Mick Brown & Sue Thompson, Hastings.