Racing: No place like home for smart sprinter

Breeder Sam Williams. Photo / Racingdesk

A New Zealand-bred who was formerly among Singapore's top three-year-olds is on his way home in a bid to resurrect his career.

Magnum will arrive later this month at his Wairarapa birthplace at Little Avondale Stud where he will enjoy a break before his connections try him again on the track.

"He was a gorgeous horse, a stunner, and the second to last foal of Sound Lover, whose 11 foals have won 57 races between them," said breeder Sam Williams, who is a part-owner of Magnum and stands his sire Per Incanto.

Magnum won all three of his trials for Cambridge horsewoman Lauren Brennan before he transferred to the Kranji stable of Michael Freedman.

The now five-year-old was successful three times for Freedman and when he decided to return to Sydney the gelding was taken over by Englishman James Peters, who won a further race with him.

"He was a really exciting three-year-old in Singapore and he placed in all three legs of the Triple Crown series," Williams said. "He drew badly in them, which didn't help, and he was up against another very good horse in Debt Collector.

"Galloping on the synthetic tracks resulted in his joints getting inflamed so we thought we'd bring him home and get him out on some good grass.

"We haven't finalised a trainer yet, but If he can get back to his best then he would certainly be competitive in some of our better sprints."

• Trainer Chris Waller says there's little room for improvement for the world's best horse on turf after she surprised by winning a Randwick barrier trial yesterday.

Both Waller and jockey Hugh Bowman appeared content with the fitness of champion Winx who is aiming to join Kingston Town as the only horses to win three consecutive Cox Plates. Winx had never finished top-two in a barrier trial before yesterday but found herself just off the speed at the turn and improved by two lengths in the straight.

"I wouldn't expect her to [get better] - she's rated the world's best horse on grass. You can't really get much better than that," said Waller.

- AAP