Australia: Magnajet fresh for handicap at Sale

A layoff of more than three months may revive the fortunes of Magnajet, a 4-year-old Southern Hemisphere colt who starts in a five-furlong handicap at Sale Racecourse in Australia on Sunday.

From early March to mid-April, Magnajet finished first, third, seventh and first in four sprint handicaps. Magnajet was given a rest after finishing last of 12 in a handicap at Cranbourne on May 8 as the 5-2 second choice.

Sunday’s race will be the shortest of Magnajet’s career. He has won 3 of 10 starts, with the wins at six furlongs and at a distance slightly less than six furlongs. Magnajet has won from the front, but tends to race as a stalker, suggesting the shorter trip will be suitable.

Magnajet has typically been ridden by an apprentice jockey in recent starts. Sunday, apprentice Tayla Childs has the mount for the first time, and will carry 130 pounds. Childs won four races from 17 mounts from Aug. 1 through Friday.

Magnajet is likely to be a slight favorite in a field of 14 over Magnolia Man, a New Zealand-bred gelding who has won 2 of 4 starts. Magnolia Man had his first three starts in New Zealand before finishing 11th of 16 in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Sandown Park in Melbourne on Aug. 12 in his Australian debut and first start since January.

The field at Sale should be against easier competition.

Magnolia Man shares top weight of 133 pounds with Moonlight Ruby, who is winless in 11 races since a handicap win at Sandown Racecourse in November 2018. Moonlight Ruby figures to be a longshot in this field.

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The partnership of Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young train both Magnajet and Magnolia Man.

The nine-race program at Sale begins at 10:25 p.m., Eastern, or 7:25 p.m., Pacific, on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.