Magical Trickster catches Marvellous Marvin in Frost King; Stunningly Perfect takes South Ocean
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Magical Trickster wore down Marvellous Marvin in the final furlong to land Sunday’s $150,000 Frost King, the first of two seven-furlong Ontario-sired stakes for 2-year-olds on the Woodbine card.
Marvellous Marvin went straight to the front while being pressed by Magical Trickster and then opened up a clear lead on the turn.
Pietro Moran rode Magical Trickster hard through the stretch and they got home on top by 1 3/4 lengths, in a time of 1:23.25.
Favored Souper Survivor finished third under Emma-Jayne Wilson, who had ridden Magical Trickster when the gelding graduated on debut Sept. 13.
“He broke sharp and put himself in the race,” Moran said. “He was comfortable traveling outside. His first race, Emma had to ride him a bit. I worked him a few times. By himself, he works easy, but he’s the kind you’ve got to keep reminding. I knew that coming in that you have to keep after him. I worked. He never stops. He keeps trying. He’s a nice horse.”
Magical Trickster ($6.20) gave freshman sire Collusion Illusion his first stakes winner. He earned $90,000 for owner Derek Chin and trainer Julia Carey.
“When he first came in as a colt in March, he was a handful and I had to send him back out to Harold and Jessie Ladouceur,” Carey said. “They did a great job straightening him out, plus gelding him. Since then, he’s been a little soldier - just perfect.”
South Ocean
Stunningly Perfect ($8.40) rode the golden rail under Jose Campos when beating the favored Sarayu in the $150,000 South Ocean for fillies.
When they met in the Sept. 13 Victorian Queen Stakes, Stunningly Perfect prevailed after Sarayu veered in at the gap leaving the chute and unseated Pietro Moran while heavily favored. In the South Ocean, they linked up on the lead entering the stretch and then traded blows before Stunningly Perfect edged away late to score by 1 1/4 lengths, in a time of 1:23.64.
“To be honest, she likes to go long,” Campos said. “When she took the position at the two and a half, it was going to be tough to beat my filly. I think the way she ran, she’s ready to go long.”
Stunningly Perfect banked $90,000 for Zilli Racing Stables. Trainer Steve Chircop said the daughter of Perfect Timber will likely make her next start around two turns in a Woodbine stakes this fall.
“She’s bred to go long,” Chircop said. “She hasn’t done anything wrong. We’ll take it one step at a time.”
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