STALLION PROFILE - MAGNUS

According to Damien Oliver, they don’t come much tougher than Magnus. Few are in a better position to comment given that the Champion jockey was on board for the horse’s greatest triumphs, and for the majority of near misses.

Magnus was truly something else as a racehorse. His never say die attitude won him a legion of fans, and why not: he won a major sprint in Sydney’s autumn (AJC The Galaxy-G1) and the VRC Age Classic-G2 (now G1) during the Melbourne Cup carnival.

But it was some of the races he didn’t win that really stick in mind: second in the Newmarket-G1, third in the Oakleigh Plate-G1 one year, second the next, third in the King’s Stand against the world’s best at Royal Ascot and fourth in the Newmarket, but still breaking the course record.

Magnus indeed raced against the best of a decade – Miss Andretti, Takeover Target, Apache Cat, Gold Edition and Horse of the Year, Weekend Hussler. And, what’s more, he’s the only entire among them!

Magnus won or placed in 10 Group Ones in Australia and overseas and finished his career with over $1.3 million in prizemoney.

As you can see from the accompanying photo, he’s a magnificent athlete to boot.

But the thing that gets most buffs excited is Magnus’ pedigree.

Firstly, he’s from the ‘blue hen’ Scandinavia who was no slouch trackside either, winning a Group race at two and running placings in no less than four Group Ones.

She is also a half sister to stakeswinners Frosty The Snowman, Midnight Sun and Russian Tea Room, but it’s her influence at stud that really has everyone sitting up and taking notice. This is one ‘happening’ family.

Aside from Magnus, Scandinavia has also produced Wilander who notched up his second Group win last spring when taking out the MRC Schillaci Stakes-G2 at Caulfield, but also resumed in the autumn with a victory in the ATA/Hoysted Stakes-LR.

And, excitingly, Scandinavia is also the granddam of Bel Esprit’s 2YO sensation, Black Caviar who has won her only two starts by a combined 11 lengths – in faster times that open sprint horses – culminating in a Blue Sapphire Stakes-LR win (by six lengths) at Caulfield last Saturday.

Additionally, the speed influences in the first three generations of Magnus’ pedigree are the who’s who of our breeding landscape: Danehill, Mr Prospector, Snippets, Vain, Lunchtime.

Last, and a long way short of being least, Magnus is by Flying Spur, Australia’s Champion Sire of 2006/07 – thanks in part to the subject of this profile – and sire of nearly 70 stakeswinners and over $76 million in stakes.

Not surprisingly, broodmare owners flocked to Magnus last season with his book including Aperto (dam of Group One winner Jymcarew), multiple Group One winner and proven producer Isca, juvenile Group winner Millrich (dam of Danerich), Group One winner Danglissa and Vain Hill (dam of Group One winner Red Dazzler). And, no less surprising, they’re returning in droves this spring, with the added bonus of Magnus’ fee being reduced to $22,500 inc. GST with a live foal guarantee and extended payment terms to 31 March 2010.

Magnus definitely ticks all the right boxes.

For further information on Magnus, click here