Simply Limelight steals the spotlight in Group 3 Magic Maiden semi finals

-trained (3) winning 2022 Group 3 Semi 3 in 29.70.

Our sports newest stars descended on Wentworth Park last night to contest three semi-finals of the Group 3 Ladbrokes Magic Maiden Series over the 520m.

In semi final one, after being hampered at the start, the online bookmakers $1.65 favourite showed incredible maturity well beyond his one-race start. From a clear last the dog railed underneath runners before switching to the outside of reserve runner on the home turn to score by a 1.75 lengths in 30.41. Trainer Jason Magri was evidently pleased with the run post-race saying, “I thought he was gone early on and put my hands in the air.”

“He done (sic) well, he railed up and took off down the back, pretty nice run actually.

“He used his head. Pretty good for a young dog I thought and hit the line good too so still a chance.”

2022 Magic Maiden Semi Final 1

Magri will be particularly pleased with the final box draw conducted on-track, with the son of Zulu Zeus and Zipping Meg coming up with box two in next Saturday night's final.

While most of the talk on track centred around Zipping Novak, Simply Limelight stole the show with time honours in the semis, clocking a sizzling 29.70 from box three. Stepping beautifully at box rise, the son of Kinloch Brae and Guiding Light gapped his rivals by 15.75 lengths at the finish, with a run home of 11.59. Owner and handler Patricia Breen was beaming post-race saying, “It was good to see him out of trouble and way out in front.”

“He's beginning a lot better, he's learnt to begin and that's a great help to him.”

2022 Magic Maiden Semi Final 2

With two wins and two seconds from four career starts, the Peter Rodgers trained-chaser certainly has a promising future, however will have to overcome a tricky box six draw in the Magic Maiden final.

The second semi-final went to heavyweight chaser Federal Aussie, weighing in at 36.8kg for trainer Stephen Fairbairn. After checking off the inside runner at box-rise, the son of Aussie Infrared and Flo Jo Focus switched to the rails and took the lead turning into the back straight to salute by 4.25 lengths in 30.48.

Handler was pleased with his effort post race.

“Good, honest little chasing dog..well he's not little, he's 36.8kg.”

“He'll improve more too, simple as that.”

“For the box draw they want inside and I want outside”, Mellon said.

2022 Magic Maiden Semi Final 3

Mellon certainly got his wish, with Federal Aussie drawing box 8 in next week's $25,000 to-the-winner final on Saturday night.

2022 Group 3 Ladbrokes Magic Maiden Final (Wentworth Park, 520m)

  • 1 – Springview Angus (Michael Hardman)
  • 2 – Zipping Novak (Jason Magri)
  • 3 – Ibrox Wildfire (William Dance)
  • 4 – (Charlie Micallef)
  • 5 – Nangar Nancy ()
  • 6 – Simply Limelight (Peter Rodgers)
  • 7 – (Victor Sultana)
  • 8 – Federal Aussie (Stephen Fairbairn)
  • Reserves

  • 9 – Rockstar Aloha (Shaun Evans)
  • 10 – Miss Free Reign

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