New South Wales raider Kulu Magic won the Sir John Dillon Memorial.NEW South Wales stayer Kulu Magic upstaged his higher profile opponents to emphatically win the $36,000 Group 2 Sir John Dillon Memorial at Sandown Park tonight.
After beginning well from box 5, Kulu Magic ($16) was crossed by National Distance Champion Flashing Floods ($3.90) before settling down second outside the favourite and defending champion Miss Brook ($1.90).
Passing the post the first time, Flashing Floods had opened up a six-length lead, however the well-supported Sky Hazzard ($4.40, backed on-course from $4 to $3.20) had joined Kulu Magic and Miss Brook and the trio began to reel in the lead.
Miss Brook peaked on her run approaching the home turn, and with Flashing Floods only plodding, Kulu Magic swept to the lead and powered to the line 2.5 lengths ahead of the hard-railing Sky Hazzard.
Flashing Floods narrowly held on for third ahead of Miss Brook a further three-quarters of a length adrift.
The race was Kulu Magic’s first Group final, and the win his 14th in 77 career starts. The $25,000 winner’s cheque boosted his prize money to almost $50,000.
Kulu Magic had been racing competitively at Lismore and Albion Park before owner John Clarson sent the son of super sire Token Prince to master Victorian mentor Robert Britton to pillage Victoria’s spring riches.
The win completed a race-to-race double for Britton, who claimed Schweppes Melbourne Cup Prelude 16 with exciting bitch Tasman Queen.
In the three other Preludes run on the night, Jason Thompson’s Group 1-winning duo Miss Hot Gossip and Suave Fella saluted, while glamour bitch Betty’s Angel showed she was on track for the Group 1 Sky Channel Topgun with an impressive win over Thompson’s Proven Alias.
