Magical Wins Again At Doncaster
Certain tracks just bring out the best in horses. Some times it can be because of the quirkiness or traits that some tracks have but some times it could be the style of racing that suits. Doncaster has seen Magical Spirit produce some of his best form and he won the 6f Park Lodge Hot Shots Handicap for the second year running.
Magical Spirit has proven to be a little bit of enigma as he got a little older. Always one to have the ability, as he has proven on some top handicaps, the form isn’t the most consistent. Connections have just learnt to go with what the gelding decides on the day, when he is on he’s good but when he’s not then…
Soft ground were the exact conditions that he won the race with last year and it was almost a carbon copy this time around. The field was twice the size but the 8yo would race off 6lb lower. Tom Eaves has been the gelding’s regular partner and was once again in the saddle.
You kind of know what day it is as soon as Magical Spirit jumps from the stalls. Today was a good one as he jumped straight into the bridle and travelled well, towards the rear of the field. There was plenty of pace on up front and this suited Magical as he just sat and waited patiently out the back of the pack.
Most of the action was happening towards the far side of the field but there wasn’t a bias. Magical Ould have a lot of work to do as they past halfway but he continued to travel powerfully. Needing to pass almost all of his rivals, Tom was riding with plenty go confidence as he manoeuvred into some daylight as they charged towards the last 2f.
Having tanked through the contest, Magical Spirit had taken Tom to the 2f pole. Now the race was heating up as the jockeys began to get animated in the saddle. The field compressed and Magical began to make headway down the stands side. Little by little the 8yo was picking off rivals and edging ever closer to the front.
Tom was working away in the saddle but had not yet gone for all. As they hit the 1f marker, Magical Spirit had joined the leader and now it was go time. Under a full drive, he changed his legs and quickened up. Snatching the lead he now began to assert his dominance. The final 1/2f was all about the winning margin and Magical poured it on, securing another win by 2 1/4 lengths.
Magical Spirit has been a great servant and showed that there is plenty of life left. When he travels you know that he is going to run a big race and he loves the big fields. Obviously he is not the most consistent but he is talented on his day. The handicapper will be putting him up once more and the big sprint handicaps will all be in line for the 8yo.