Have to Believe in Magic

Leading trainer Mark Walker took one two-year-old to race on 3 November at Woodville, and Believe In Magic (2 f Not A Single Doubt - Perform A Miracle, by More Than Ready) duly obliged.

Having made good ground for sixth after being ungenerous from the gates when debuting in the Maiden 2YO 800 metres on 24 September at Ruakaka, Believe In Magic began smartly to co-lead a competitive pace on the inner and displayed plenty of defiance to prevail in a close three-way finish.

Ridden by Craig Grylls in the $14,000 Central Wool Transport 2YO 1100 metres, Believe In Magic ran the trip in 1:05.6 on Soft5 footing and paid $1.90.

“It looked as though she was headed halfway down the straight, but I loved the way she put her head down and fought strongly,” Walker said.

“It's good to get some prize money with her and we'll map out a programme towards the Karaka Million.”

Eligibility for the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200 metres) on Saturday 21 January at Pukekohe, comes firstly through being purchased at the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales Series, and entry for the final field of 14 is then determined by prize money.

Te Akau recorded its sixth consecutive victory in the race when Dynastic (Almanzor) stretched out beautifully in January at Ellerslie, and he steps out on Saturday in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Riccarton.

Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM bought Believe In Magic for $200,000 in March at Karaka, from the draft of Westbury Stud, and she is owned by Te Akau Absolutely No Doubt Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

By one of the elite stallions in Australia, Not A Single Doubt (Redoute's Choice), with over 2450 winners, 160 stakes' winners including 21 Group One's, the dam-side of her pedigree is particularly rich.

Incredibly, world renowned dam-sire More Than Ready (Southern Halo) has sired over 4000 winners including 256 stakes' winners and 50 Group One winners, and is already proving an exceptional Australian broodmare sire.

More Than Ready has been Champion Sire in both hemispheres, proved an outstanding sire of sires and is going from strength-to-strength as a broodmare sire.

Second and third dams are by Champion Sires Encosta de Lago (Fairy King) and Danehill (Danzig), respectively, while fourth Dam, talented race mare and top producer St. Klaire (Bletchingly) is from the incomparable Eight Carat family.

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “She's a beautiful filly and really natural running two-year-old type.

“She's not overly big, but possesses plenty of class and strength and looks an ideal Karaka Million type.

“She has a great line-up of sires in her pedigree and plenty of two-year-old form.”

The filly carries a bloodline cross of super sire Danehill, through the sire line of Not A Single Doubt and dam line of Perform A Miracle.

Believe In Magic was strapped by Laura Macnab.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz