Reys gets best out of gelding
LAWRENCE Reys would not have put his hand into his own pocket if he did not believe former NSW horse Magnormous had a fair bit of ability.
The seven-year-old had 26 southern runs, for just two wins, before being purchased and sent north in late 2017.
The Aloomba trainer gave the gelding two starts in the Far North, without much luck, before sending him for almost 12 months in the paddock.
Magnormous has come back into work this year a newlook horse and is in the middle of one of his best career preparations, running a smart second at Innisfail last month before collecting a big pay cheque on the first day of the Amateurs carnival, winning over 1250m.
The Reys-trained and partowned gelding steps up in distance today in the Benchmark 55 Handicap at Townsville.
Reys only has a small team of horses but he has been getting the best out of them of late, with Magnormous and Global Guru both greeting the judges in recent weeks.
“We would not have spent that much money on him if we did not think he had the ability,” Reys said of Magnormous.
“We knew we had half a horse underneath us and that is the way we have travelled with him.”
Magnormous has been slugged with an extra 4kg from his win at Cannon Park earlier this month but will only carry 59kg with apprentice Amanda Thomson’s claim.
Meanwhile, Roy Chillemi will give former NSW gelding Good As Done his first start in the north today over 1000m.