Cockram Stakes First Up for Magic Time

With connections indicating Saturday's Gr3 Cockram Stakes would be an ideal first up race before progressing to the 1400m of the Gr1 Si Rupert Clarke Stakes (a race she won in 2023) three weeks later, the Grahame Begg trained Magic Time (Hellbent-Time Awaits, by Nicconi) is likely to start one of the favoured runners here. "She'll kick off in the Cockram, it's the only real opportunity to give her a run at 1200 metres and still have a proper buffer before the Rupert Clarke," Begg told Racing.com. With three wins from six first up runs including the Gr2 Expressway Stakes last campaign, the Yulong owned mare will be ridden by Michael Dee, who has ridden her to both her two previous Gr1 victories, with the duo set to jump from barrier six in the 15-horse field. Scratched from last Saturday's Gr3 Toy Show Quality, possibly due to the heavy 10 rated track, Michael Freedman has sent Gr1 Sires' Produce Stakes winner Manaal (Tassort-Red Lodge, by Midshipman) down south to race at Caulfield for the first time. Having defeated Wodeton (Wootton Bassett) in her most recent barrier trial, the 4yo mare has a win and two placed efforts from four first up runs and if she handles the anti-clockwise way of going, she could surprise.