First time lucky for duo

Rookies’ Magnufighter is one for Millions

SOME owners can go a lifetime without securing a horse of any significance.

Cairns’ Alison and Nick Trompf are two of the very, very, very lucky ones.

The Trompfs had never owned a thoroughbred racehorse before they purchased Magnufighter, by Magnus out of Le Bel Away, for $85,000 at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Today, Magnufighter, the only horse they own shares in, will be on show at the Gold Coast in the $2,000,000 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m).

“We have been very lucky,” said Nick Trompf, Advance Cairns’ new chief executive.

“I have spoken to other people who own horses that struggle to get a run in the city and they just shake their head when I tell them about this horse.

“The first one we have a stake in has turned out handy. We are pinching ourselves.”

Top South Australian jockey Jamie Kah has picked up the ride on the Gary Duncantrained colt in the Guineas.

Magnufighter, whose other connections include former Cairns Jockey Club president John Piccone and his brother Peter, won successive races at Doomben in November.

Kah rode him when he finished fifth to Pierata in the Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at the same track on December 30.

“I was so impressed with him last start,” Kah said.

“If he gets a good run, I think he will be running home.”

UBET’s Nick Curry says the punters have come for just one horse in betting for the 3YO Guineas: Pierata.

“Magnufighter has got plenty of ability, but you’d think he’d need to find a few lengths to trouble the favourite on their Vo Rogue run,” Curry said.

“Punters have decided the Guineas is a one-horse race with Pierata.”

While the Trompfs are rookie owners, the other connections have history on their side as the Piccone brothers were part owners of Saluter, who won the Magic Millions Guineas for three-year-olds in 2013.

“We were there on the day of the sales for and little did we know that two years on we would have a horse that has run in a Group 1 race and will now run in a $2,000,000 race,” Nick Trompf said.

“And he is not without a chance today.”

The bay colt has been a model of consistency in his nine starts, only running outside the top five once.