New G3 Winner for Magnus

Jeff Penza made a clean sweep of the three Group III features at Newcastle on Friday when guiding the Magnus gelding Ashman to an all the way triumph in the $160,000 Group III Australian Bloodstock Cameron Hcp (1500m).

The Kim Waugh-trained 6yo refused to yield in a gruelling last 200 metres to defeat Sky Lab by a half-head in a thrilling finish.

“He is so brave this horse,” Waugh said.

“We have only had him this preparation, and we’ve learnt a lot about him.

“I said to Jeff that when Brock (Ryan) won on him, he let him roll but kept him comfortable. If you can let him get a couple of twelves (second furlongs), he will be fighting the finish out.”

Penza set a new record by winninig all three features on the same day.

“It’s a great thrill,” Penza said.

“I ride here every provincial meeting, it’s very rewarding,

“He is a super horse out of the gates, but he went a bit harder than I wanted him to. I was fighting him a bit down the back straight.

“Full credit to the horse and the stable who had him super fit and rock hard. He could have easily given it away halfway down the straight, but he dug deep and fought on.”

Purchased for $27,500 at the 2021 Inglis February (Early) Online sale, Ashman advances his record to nine wins from 26 starts with earnings of $297,785.

He is the best of three winners from four to race out of the Linamix mare Ashamika (Fr), a sister to Group II Saint-Cloud Prix de Malleret and Group II Newmarket Pride Stakes winner Ashalanda and Listed winner Ashlan.

Ashman becomes the 23rd stakes-winner for Widden Stud’s ever-consistent sire Magnus who stands at a fee of $15,400 this season.