The $2 million The Invitation has been earmarked as the main mission for Group One winner Magic Time this spring and trainer Grahame Begg is convinced he has her spot-on for the Randwick feature.
The five-year-old finished third in the corresponding race 12 months ago but has since been successful twice at the highest level, going on to win last year’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and the All Aged Stakes (1400m) in Sydney during the autumn.
She showed she had returned in good order with a solid fourth in the Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 5 and Begg expected her to strip much fitter for that run.
“She has trained on beautifully and tightened right up,” Begg said.
“She always just needs that one run now to tighten her up, particularly when you’re running in Group Two grade and that’s not their grand final.
“This is the race I set her for, The Invitation. It’s a Group Two now and the prizemoney is there.”
Magic Time has a great record in Sydney where she has raced six times for a three Group wins and two feature-race placings.
She is a $4 equal second pick to further enhance those statistics on Saturday and Begg says her performance will determine where she heads next.
The Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on November 9 is among the options, along with a defence of her Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes crown.
However, the longer-term focus of connections is on the autumn.
“I might give her two runs, then give her a light spell and get her up early to run her in the Group Ones (like the Futurity Stakes) and then go to Sydney again,” Begg said.
Magic Time is one of four Group 1 winners in The Invitation (1400m) along with Zougotcha, Belclare and Royal Merchant.