Group 1 win to Eamon Maguire
OTAGO’S little pacing hero, Eamon Maguire, took his game to a national level by brilliantly winning the New Zealand Messenger Championship at Alexandra Park last night.
The reigning Otago harness horse of the year wore down a gallant Star Galleria to claim his first group 1 victory in the country’s premier staying race for 4yrolds.
After blasting to the front, Eamon Maguire showed true southern grit in the straight to claim the $100,000 feature.
‘‘He had to work hard early. It is always hard to kick on once you have worked hard early, so it was a great win,’’ his coowner and former trainer, Graeme Anderson, said.
Eamon Maguire was having only his second start for trainers Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen. He was sent to the premier trainers as part of a longrange plan after Anderson prepared him at Westwood Beach for his return to racing following a spell.
‘‘He had that bit of a flat spot to start the season and we gave him a lovely six months out.’’
‘‘I bought him back and I knew he was back to his best, so the plan was always to send him to Mark and Natalie.’’
Eamon Maguire was ranked only 15th for the Harness Jewels before the Messenger but has shot to the top of Jewels calculations. His brilliant gate speed he showed last night will make him exceptionally hard to catch, should he be handed a frontline draw at Cambridge at Queen’s Birthday weekend.
On a big night for Otago connections, Oamaru trotter Monty Python ran second last night behind Speeding Spur in the group 1 Rowe Cup.
It was the only group race not won by the PurdonRasmussen stable which triumphed in the Northern Derby with Winterfell and the 2yrold fillies Sires Stakes Championship with Kayla Marie.