Richard and Will Freedman had initially thought Magnatear would be a doubtful starter in the 2026 Shannon Stakes. However, a reconsideration has led to the consistent gelding being entered for the race.
The original strategy was to give Magnatear one more run in the Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) prior to his main objective, the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on Melbourne Cup day.
Will Freedman conveyed that the decision was made to give the seven-year-old an additional start this weekend, ensuring he reaches peak fitness for the major November feature.
“We’d hate to be half a run short coming into the Big Dance, so we thought we’d give him an extra run now rather than try to squeeze one in after the Alan Brown if we felt he was slightly underdone,” Will Freedman explained. “It will be this one, then the Alan Brown, and then the Big Dance.”
Magnatear has been a standout performer for the Freedmans since joining their stable just under two years prior.
Having earned a spot in The Big Dance by winning the Muswellbrook Cup (1500m) in March, he returned with what many consider a career-best effort when runner-up to Skyhook in the Theo Marks Stakes (1300m).
The gelding has recorded seven wins and 15 placings from 32 career starts, amassing over $750,000 in prize money, and Will Freedman highlighted his importance to the stable’s success.
“He’s a fine wine. He just gets better,” he commented. “I was having a conversation with a friend of mine and he said, ‘he’s so good for your business’, and I said, ‘no he’s actually terrible for my business because if he wasn’t around there might have been times I could have gone on to a different career and lived a comfortable life!’ He just keeps coming back and he’s so honest. If you had a barn full of horses like him you’d be very happy.”
A field of ten runners is set to contest the Shannon Stakes, with the victor receiving exemption from ballot and penalty for the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick the following week.
Magnatear has drawn the inside alley and has a solid record when racing second-up, having only missed a top-three finish on one occasion in five starts.
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