HE is the new face that has joined the Jenny Graham stable and one they hope can contribute to another tilt at Country Championship success at Randwick Racecourse.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Magnalane will jump alongside stablemates The Drake, Foxy's Foxinator and Awesome Pluck in a potential four-pronged attack from Graham at Taree on Sunday.
The four-year-old gelding has previously had success at Manning Valley Race Club and recent form suggests he is poised for a strong challenge in the Mid North Coast Country Championships Qualifier.
"He won his last start at Taree over 1300 metres so we feel getting out to the 1400 he'll only be better," Graham said.
He has also registered two wins from as many starts at the track, but recent wet weather could prove a challenge.
"He likes the give in the track at Taree, but I don't think he's been tested with us on a heavy track so if it got to a soft range I'd expect him to run well," Graham said.
"We're hoping the track will dry out. On Wednesday it was rated a heavy 10 so we're hoping it will get back into the soft range by Sunday."
Graham admits the preparation hasn't been as strong as she would have liked due to race cancellations which have restricted her ability to give the four-year-old a trial gallop in race conditions.
"It's going to be more of an effect not having a run because it's a high pressure race and it's looking like a heavy track if not soft," she said.
"It's going to be a testing 1400 so that's why you'd prefer they had a run under their belt.
While the track at Port Macquarie has been open, Graham conceded her horses haven't had the adrenaline associated with getting out of the boxes.
"You also have the trip to the races and those sorts of things that get rid of a lot of that nervous energy," she said.
"They haven't had any of that because they're doing all their work at home."
He likes the give in the track at Taree, but I don't think he's been tested with us on a heavy track.
- Jenny Graham
Foxy's Foxinator has followed a similar preparation following a last-start win at Grafton.
"He won first-up over 1400 so we've tried to mirror that of Magnalane and we gave him a let-up as well so he'll be fresh," Graham said.
"We would have liked two trials with him, but it was cancelled."
The stable's recent success continued when The Drake - who has won his last two starts over 1000 and 1200 metres - saluted at Coffs Harbour five weeks ago.
"He's lightly raced and our biggest query is the 1400 distance because he'll handle the heavy track, it's just whether he handles the 1400," Graham said.
Awesome Pluck will round out the Graham stable's runners who are no strangers to a Country Championship campaign.
"We've had a horse in every heat since it's been around," Graham said.
"We've won one, had a third and a couple of placings but they're getting harder and harder to win.
"It's not at our home track which is the advantage we had over the last couple of years."
What else is happening in sport?
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, SIGN UP HERE.
If you value local journalism, continue to support us and consider taking out a subscription. CLICK HERE for a 30-day free trial.