Group Double for Magnus at Caulfield
The loss of much missed Victorian favourite sire Magnus was highlighted on Saturday when he had a race to race Group double at Caulfield with Just Folk landing the Group III MRC Eclipse Stakes (1800m) followed by King Magnus in the Group III MRC Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m).
The Robbie Griffiths and Matt de Kock trained King Magnus won the Listed Cranbourne Cup in 2021 and has been racing consistently this year with this victory his third for 2023.
King Magnus came with a well timed run to chime in at the 100m and go on to win by a length under Thomas Stockdale.
You beauty 👑
King Magnus charges home in the G3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes 😍@GriffithsdeKock pic.twitter.com/hxYZKoVpDA
— Racing.com (@Racing) December 2, 2023
Robbie Griffiths was full of praise for the eight year-old gelding, who has won 10 of 34 starts with eight placings earning over $1.1million in prizemoney.
“He is like an ATM, that’s what we always say about Magnus, Magnus means money and he keeps delivering ‘The King’, a good day to do it, it’s my anniversary today,” said Robbie Griffths.
“It’s a great race to win because Kevin Heffernan was a dear friend and we’ve tried a few times to win this and run second so to win with The King and in partnership with Matt and on my anniversary, it’s a pretty special day.”
King Magnus was bred by John Pratt and is the best of three winners from Influential Miss, a winning Carnegie (IIRE) mare from a big European family featuring Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter (IRE).
Magnus passed away earlier this year and his last crop of foals are being born this spring.
