July 14th, 2008

Magic Albert has been churning out the winners of late and posted a three state metropolitan treble over the weekend when Magic Promenade scored at Doomben on Saturday followed later in the day by Hotel Casino at Canterbury and then Greenmount Belle scored in Hobart on Sunday.

The Barry Bowditch trained Magic Promenade scored a deserved win after some recent fine efforts, turning in a good tough performance to take the Class Six event for fillies and mares over 1350 metres by a head.

Retained to race, Magic Promenade has won four races and placed five times from 14 starts earning over $70,000 in prizemoney and looks to have a bright future.

She is the second foal of the unraced Naturalism mare Pugilista, a daughter of stakes-winner Pusan.

Notching the double for Magic Albert was the Grahame Begg trained gelding Hotel Casino, who raced handy throughout and then kicked clear to win the Ratings 86 event over 1250 metres at Canterbury by the best part of a length.

Hotel Casino took his record to five wins and five placings from 18 starts with earnings of $168,620, providing a good return for his large group of owners who include the Yarraman Park Syndicate.

A $70,000 purchase from the 2005 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Hotel Casino was bred and offered for sale by Yarraman Park Stud and is the seventh and final foal of Tycoon Scene (IRE), who passed away in 2005.

A daughter of leading broodmare sire Last Tycoon, Tycoon Scene was a half-sister to Group Two winner Courvoisier from the international family of Group One winners Indian Skimmer, Missy’s Mirage and Classy Mirage; and also Sunday's Gosford Guineas winner Cent Per Cent.

The Prime Thoroughbreds owned filly Greenmount Belle posted her sixth win for the Charlie Goggin stable in Tasmania when taking out the open event over 1100 metres by nearly two lengths beating the older horses to take her overall earnings to $54,516.

A bargain basement purchase, having been snaffled by Prime Thoroughbreds for just $10,000 from the Willow Park draft at the 2006 Magic Millions Yearling Sale Session Five, Greenmount Belle is from the Red Anchor mare Noonabelle, a half-sister to stakes-placed Delfina.

Magic Albert was in keen demand with breeders last spring covering 145 mares at a fee of $16,500 and has had some 43 winners so far this season of over $1.3 million in prizemoney including stakes-winning sprinter Al Be Nimble. 

June 22nd, 2008

Magic Albert featured on Saturday with a smart Eagle Farm winner in Albert the Fat and an impressive juvenile debut winner in Za Magic, who won the $100,000 MM Two Year Old Plate at the Gold Coast.

Prepared by Gold Coast trainer Maryann Thexton for herself and nine other partners, Za Magic finished full of running to win the 1200 metre event by the best part of a length over handy juvenile Hyde Park.

The chestnut gelding was purchased by Ms Thexton for $36,000 from the draft of Oakwood Farm at the 2006 MM National Weanling Sale and is the third foal of the metropolitan winning Zabeel mare Zab Watch (NZ).

A half-sister to the dam of Group Three winner Tantalic, Zab Watch is a grand-daughter of champion filly Surround, the Australian Horse of the Year in 1977.

The Dale Sutton trained colt Albert the Fat scored a dominant two length win in the open three year-old event over 1200 metres, taking his record to four wins and two placings from just seven starts with prizemoney of $82,500.

A $40,000 purchase for Wadham Park from the draft of Rheinwood Pastoral during Session Five at the 2006 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Albert the Fat is from the Bureaucracy mare Alemar, a full sister to stakes-placed Mastery.

Magic Albert is the sire of some 36 winners this season with progeny earnings in excess of $1million and having covered better books of mares in the last two years his overall results can only improve

May 18th, 2008

Al Be Nimble was tackling seven furlongs for the first time at Rosehill on Saturday in the Listed Civic Stakes and he showed his class to grab a last stride win over Certain Magic.

Al Be Nimble has been racing very well this preparation with a first-up win in a Welter followed by two seconds in stakes events during the Autumn carnival races and although he was up in the weights on he showed his class and broke through for an overdue black type win.

Ridden off the speed by Nash Rawiller, Al Be Nimble, was produced late to defeat Certain Magic (Fasliyev - Miss Superb by Splendent) by a long neck with Firtz's Princess (More Than Ready - Superb lady by Canny Lad) another three-quarters-of-a-length away in third.

Rawiller told Richard Callendar from TVN, “the genuinely run handicaps are what he’s looking for and he got that today. In the spring a race like the Emirates on the last day of the Flemington carnival might not be beyond him.”

Trained at Kembla by Gwenda Markwell, Al Be Nimble has chalked up six wins and five seconds from 13 starts, with almost $300,000 in earnings to his credit.

Retained to race by his breeders, Al Be Nimble is from a Danehill mare in the imported Nimble (IRE), who was purchased last year by Yarraman Park in partnership with Dennis Wilton and is now back in foal to Magic Albert.

Nimble (IRE) was a minor winner in Italy at 1600 metres and was also fourth in a Listed event for fillies in England at Newbury. She comes from a prolific Black Type European family and Al Be Nimble is her only foal to race.

Yarraman Park based Magic Albert is the sire of 35 winners this season and covered 146 mares last spring at $16,500, his fee set to remain the same this spring.

April 7th, 2008

Magic Albert four year-old Al Be Nimble returned from a spell of 14 weeks to score an impressive win in the 1100 metre welter at Canterbury on Saturday.

The dashing chestnut was ridden quietly in the early stages by Dan Nikolic from an awkward gate and when asked for an effort he gunned down the leaders so quickly he began to 'stargaze' a little the last 20metres to score by half-a-length in taking his record to five wins from 10 starts.

Not seen since thrashing a smart field to win the Listed AJC Carrington Stakes in early January, the Gwenda Markwell trained Al Be Nimble looks set for a good carnival.

Retained to race by his breeders, Al Be Nimble is from a Danehill mare in the imported Nimble (IRE), who was purchased last year by Yarraman Park in partnership with Dennis Wilton and is now back in foal to Magic Albert.

Nimble (IRE) was a minor winner in Italy at 1600 metres and was also fourth in a Listed event for fillies in England at Newbury. She comes from a prolific Black Type European family and Al Be Nimble is her only foal to race.

Lightly raced three year-old Albert the Fat made it a two state metropolitan double for Magic Albert when he saluted at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Trained by Dale Sutton, Albert the Fat won the open three year-old event over 1400 metres by more than two lengths and has the tidy record of three wins and two placings from just six starts.

A $40,000 purchase for Wadham Park from the draft of Rheinwood Pastoral at the 2006 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Albert the Fat is from the inning Bureaucracy mare Alemar, a sister to stakes-placed Mastery.

Magic Albert has been an overwhelming success for Yarraman Park since retiring to stud in 2002, his ever increasing list of winners prompting a rise in service fee in 2007 to $16,500.

Fans of Magic Albert will be pleased to note he has two youngsters catalogued for Inglis Easter Part Two and 14 for the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. 

January 2nd, 2008

Racing on New Year’s Day provided Yarraman Park's resident sire Magic Albert with his third stakes-winner when Al Be Nimble took out the Listed Carrington Stakes (1100m) at Royal Randwick.

Al Be Nimble dished out a galloping lesson at Randwick, blitzing his rivals to win the Listed event by three-and-a-half lengths.

A chestnut like his sire, Al Be Nimble was sent out a hot favourite on the strength of his recent impressive form and never gave punters a moments cause for concern. 

Replicating the tactics used in his most recent run when he defeated smart filly Hurried Choice at Rosehill, Al Be Nimble was ridden patiently by Larry Cassidy and when given full bore in the straight he accelerated in the manner of a very good horse. 

“He was very dominant today,” said winning rider Larry Cassidy. 

“He gave them a start, then picked them up and spat them out.” 

Retained to race by his breeders and prepared at Kembla by Gwenda Markwell, Al Be Nimble has won four races and placed three times from nine starts earning $150,050. 

Al Be Nimble becomes the first Australian stakes-winner for Magic Albert, his previous stakes-winners the Group One NZ Two Thousand Guineas winner Magic Cape and another Kiwi based horse in Alberto. 

Significantly for breeders it’s worth noting that Al Be Nimble is from a Danehill mare in the imported Nimble (IRE), who was purchased last year by Yarraman Park in partnership with Dennis Wilton and is now back in foal to Magic Albert. 

Nimble (IRE) was a minor winner in Italy at 1600 metres and was also fourth in a Listed event for fillies in England at Newbury. She comes from a prolific black type European family and Al Be Nimble is her only foal to race. 

Magic Albert has been an overwhelming success for Yarraman Park since retiring to stud in 2002, his ever increasing list of winners prompting a rise in service fee in 2007 to $16,500. 

December 16th, 2007

Magic Albert featured at Rosehill on Saturday when his son Al Be Nimble claimed the Cadbury Favourites Now with Boost Hcp (1100m) in a very nice manner.

A late nomination for the event after pulling up well from a top run last Saturday, Al Be Nimble, improved off that run to score by three-quarters-of a length from Hurried Choice (Choisir - Hustle Bustle by Catrail).

Al Be Nimble is the only foal to have raced from the Danehill mare, Nimble, and gave the family a boost when he ran second in the Listed STC Darby Munro Stakes during his classic season. 

In more good news for Magic Albert, in New Zealand last week his son Albercheno opened his account with a good win in the open three year-old event over 1200 metres.

A close up third at his previous start at Te Rapa, the Peter Walker owned Albercheno improved to score by the best part of a length for his trainer Joanne Surgenor.

Ridden off the pace by Noel Harris, he accelerated impressively with a strong late burst to dive between runners in a stylish performance.

A $45,000 purchase from the Yarraman Park draft at the 2005 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, Albercheno was secured by Kiwi agent Robt Dawe and was immediately exported to New Zealand.

He is the third foal of the unraced Snippets mare Snippet’s Dancer, who comes from the family of stakes-winners Allez Glen and We’re Dancing.

Albercheno is a three-quarter brother-in-blood to Gary Portelli’s smart Magic Albert four year-old Something Anything, a Group Three placed winner of three races and some $260,000 in prizemoney.

Snippet’s Dancer has a yearling full sister to Albercheno and produced another Magic Albert colt this spring on September 13.

Magic Albert has done well in New Zealand where his progeny include last year’s Group One New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas winner Magic Cape and the Listed winner Alberto.

July 1st, 2007

Outstanding young sire Magic Albert hit the spot with a two state metropolitan winning double on Saturday with exciting filly Petulie scoring at Randwick, while smart three year-old Something Anything made it back-to-back wins at Sandown.

The Alan Denham trained Petulie was set a task in carrying 58 kg, stepping up to 1400 metres and coming off a month’s break between runs, but she emerged victorious under a beautiful ride from Tye Angland.

He settled the filly back in the field and close to the fence, so was able to save ground all the way until switching around the leaders to make his run.

“It was a good effort with the weight on the heavy track,” Angland said. 

”At about the 200 metres she really started to get motoring and I thought she was going to win comfortably but to the credit of the runner-up it never gave up. My filly has improved a lot since her first win and there is more to come.” 

Petulie has now three races in succession, her overall record standing at three wins and a second from five starts with prizemoney of $82,350.

Bred and retained by Geoff and Beryl White, Petulie is the third foal of the Danehill (USA) mare Tramore a half-sister to champion filly Triscay, who won 15 races and $1.9 million for the Whites in a glittering career.

Other prominent family members include Group One winners Defier, La Baraka and Demerger, so Petulie is lacking for nothing on the score of pedigree.

Also in the winner’s circle for Magic Albert was the Gary Portelli prepared Something Anything who led throughout to win the open event over 1400 metres for three year-olds.

His game performance to win by half a head under 58 kg took his overall record to three wins and six placings from 15 starts his prizemoney soaring to $206,405.

A $40,000 purchase from the draft of Yarraman Park at the 2005 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Something Anything is the sixth foal of the Kala Dancer (GB) mare Maline.

Magic Albert is outstanding value for breeders at Yarraman Park this season at a fee of $16,500 and as one of the very few commercial stallions in the marketplace that are 100% free of Northern Dancer, he is sure to be popular and let’s not forget Petulie is out of a daughter of Danehill (USA).

June 17th, 2007

In Victoria on the Australian Steeplechase card, Something Anything, opened the meeting with a determined effort in the Jim Conway Hcp (1400m).

Trained out of the Gary Portelli yard at Flemington where Portelli's brother Troy is in charge, Something Anything, had the services of top hoop Darren Gauci.

Gauci a brilliant judge of speed, summed up the early fierce tempo, allowing the headstrong bay to settle kindly for him towards the second half of the pack.  With the speed so hot in front Gauci, although posted wide, was able to get the gelding into a nice rhythm and the son of Magic Albert toughed it out for a solid quarter-length victory over Light Vision (Zerpour - Switches by Naturalism) with Reliability (Kurofune - Capability by Nashwan) the same margin away in third.

Something Anything (ex Maline by Kala Dancer), had been knocking on the door at his two previous starts since returning to Troy's care from a Sydney campaign.  He has now earned more than $100,000, a tidy profit for his connections, as Gary Portelli purchased him from the 2005 Inglis Classic Sale from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud as agent for just $40,000.

January 27th, 2007

Magic Albert figured in the winner’s list at Randwick on Australia Day as the sire of promising three year-old Hotel Casino, winner of the Class Three event over 1300 metres.

Ridden by Tim Clark, the Graeme Begg trained gelding sat just off the pace before proving too solid over the concluding stages for the Fantastic Light gelding Maliwanag (ex Biru Lang by Pine Bluff), a last start winner.

Hotel Casino has won two races and placed twice from seven starts earning a touch over $70,000.

A $70,000 purchase from the 2005 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Hotel Casino was bred and offered for sale by Yarraman Park Stud and is the seventh and final foal of Tycoon Scene, who passed away in 2005.  A daughter of leading broodmare sire Last Tycoon, Tycoon Scene was a half-sister to Group Two winner Courvoisier from the international family of Group One winners Indian Skimmer, Missy’s Mirage and Classy Mirage.

Magic Albert was exceptionally popular with breeders last spring covering a bumper book of 180 mares, following on from serving 120 in 2005, so his current shortage of commercial yearlings will be just for this year only, with some terrific youngsters in the pipeline for the future.

January 22nd, 2007

The main meeting in New Zealand on Saturday was held at Trentham featuring the Group I Telegraph Handicap (1200m) and on the under card the Shaune Ritchie-trained Magic Cape shone through taking the Group 3 Wellington Stakes (1600m).

Ritchie produced Magic Cape after a nine week break to grab a last stride win in the Group 3 feature.

Ritchie knew he had his 2000 Guineas winner in great order.  Although the talented three-year-old dropped out to last early, by his rider Patrick Holmes, who didn't make his move heading out towards the outside rail at the top of the home straight - making a tough job even harder.

However, the tough son of Magic Albert finished off strongly and grabbed victory from Figeures, who was three lengths clear at the 150m.  

The colt now heads toward New Zealand's $700,000 Derby at Ellerslie.

With the breed of horses we have now, you don't have to run them like you used to. This horse will have only one more run before the Derby and that's all he'll need.

Magic Cape's final Derby lead-up will be the $100,000 Championship Stakes at Ellerslie on February 17.

Magic Cape (ex Cape City) defeated Figueres (Star Way - Figurante) by 1-1/2 lengths with Retro (Pins - Zamalong) the same margin away in third.

The win has prompted the NZTAB to elevate Magic Cape to clear $6 favourite for the Derby ahead of Stolen Thunder and Brute Force at $7.

November 20th, 2006

Australian based Magic Albert produced his first Group I winner in New Zealand on Saturday when Magic Cape took out the Two Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. 

A New Zealand Ready to Run graduate from the draft of Windsor Park Magic Cape (ex Cape City) was purchased by his trainer Shaun Ritchie for $50,000.  It was Ritchie's first success at the elite level.

Magic Cape stormed down the outside to reel in star three-year-old Jokers Wild (Black Minnaloushe x Miss Rory) to grab the elite win by a neck.  Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago x Stoneyfell Road) finished third.

Across the Tasman, two-year-old Lieserl overcame a bad start to claim a winning debut in the Jacob's Creek Sparkling Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill. 

Trained at Randwick by Gai Waterhouse, the filly got sandwiched between runners immediately after jumping, ridden by Chris Munce, the filly was able to tact on to the field rounding the first home turn following another debut runner Afghani (Street Cry - Monetary by Diesis).  As Afghani tired, Lieserl gained a run and went on to score by 1-3/4 lengths with Promiscuity (Filante - Indiscrete by Grosvenor) another long neck away in third.

Waterhouse said she would spell Lieserl (ex Sri Lanka by Sri Pekan) after Saturday's effort and most likely bring her back in a month for a tilt at the $500,000 William Inglis Classic Race.

Purchased by bloodstock agent Jon Freyer from the Inglis Classic sale from the draft of Goodwood Farm for $57,500.  

Magic Albert won seven races during his career including the Group 2 STC Peter Pan Stakes (1200m) and the Group 3 Newcastle Spring Stakes (1600m). He stands at Yarraman Park Stud at Scone and he has one other stakes winner to his credit the Graeme Rogerson and Stephen Autridge trained Alberto (ex Ballet Honours).

October 3rd, 2006

Magic Albert has zoomed to the top of the Australian second season sires table with 10 individual winners (two in NZ), placing him clear of his nearest rivals Show a Heart and Viscount.

Magic Albert got the taste of his first Group Two winner at Moonee Valley on Friday night when exciting prospect Magic Jet scored by a head in the MVRC Stutt Stakes Gr 2, but the victory was short-lived with stewards awarding the race to Churchill Downs following a highly controversial protest.

Magic Jet settled back in the field before creeping through along the fence to take the lead on straightening, but in the concluding stages he veered out to contact Churchill Downs just strides from the line.

Many felt that Churchill Downs was not going well enough to win in any case, but the stewards decided otherwise in a move that has attracted plenty of comment.

The Stephen Theodore trained Magic Jet will now head to Sydney for the Group One AJC Spring Champion Stakes and will then go to the paddock with the Group One AJC Australian Derby as his prime autumn target.

Bred and offered for sale by Yarraman Park Stud, Magic Jet was purchased for $60,000 by Theodore at the 2005 Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

He is the fourth foal of the metropolitan winner Military Call, a half-sister by Military Plume to Group Two winner Regal Crown.

Military Call was also represented by a winner at Balaklava last Wednesday in the shape of the David Hayes trained gelding Morning Colours, a four-year old by Marju (IRE) that was sold by Yarraman for $130,000 at the 2004 Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Military Call delivered a beautiful filly foal by Catbird last week and will be going back to Magic Albert.

Magic Albert got a small measure of revenge in the final event at Moonee Valley when his three-year old son General Albert got home to score his second metropolitan win from just four starts.

General Albert was also bred and sold by Yarraman Park, fetching $30,000 at the Adelaide Magic Millions.

His stakes-winning dam Lusso produced a full brother to General Albert last week and will also be covered by Magic Albert again.

Another nice mare to find her way to Magic Albert this spring is Tidfish, the dam of last season’s outstanding juvenile I Got Chills.

September 24th, 2006

With two group one events on the card at Caulfield on Saturday, Something Anything, made sure his win wasn't lost amongst the hype.  

Prepared at Flemington by Troy Portelli, Something Anything had come to his stable with a bit of a reputation, as Portelli told TVN's Bruce Clark, 'Well thank goodness he's (Something Anything) won.

"He's such a handful - he's so headstrong and all he wants to do is kick and bite.' 

Something Anything had been sent to Melbourne after two sound fresh runs in New South Wales.  At his first start back Something Anything had missed the start and ran home well to just go down behind Kooka at Rosehill.  At his next start he didn't appear comfortable on the heavy track.

Back to a good track on Saturday, Something Anything, got away well from barrier 1 under Steve King.  With Kaphero showing his usual gate brilliance to take up the running with the punters elect Cenotaph moving up along side him at the 1000m mark. King was able to get Something Anything to settle by the time they got to the half way mark as he had wanted to over-race early.

 With both of those horses sharing the lead the pace was very strong.  As they rounded the turn those two were still going well and Something Anything made ground along the rail till the 150m when he was baulked for a run.  Checking across their heels and balanced again King got into the colt and he grabbed Cenotaph in the last few bounds and then held off the fast finish of Enemy Of Average.  

Something Anything did a very good job to land his maiden win and he will have many more in store if he can learn from the experience.  While Enemy Of Average (Fusaichi Pegasus - Patrona by Lomond) worked home well late and he will clean up better again with the run under his belt.  

Something Anything (ex Maline by Kala Dancer) has now earned more than $64,000, a profit for his connections, as Gary Portelli purchased Something Anything from the 2005 Inglis Classic Sale from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud as agent for just $40,000.

September 12th, 2006

Yarraman Park based sire Magic Albert notched his all important first stakes-winner on Saturday when exciting three-year old colt Alberto captured the Listed Wanganui Guineas in New Zealand. 

Coming off an impressive first-up victory at Taupo carrying 58 kg, Alberto was well fancied to win his initial foray into stakes company and did not disappoint.

Alberto won the 1320 metre event by half a length, stretching his winning sequence to four consecutive wins preceded by a lone second when beaten on debut at Trentham in March.

“Alberto was one of the nicest yearlings by Magic Albert and we’re delighted to see him come out and perform so well. He looks a very smart horse in the making,” said Arthur Mitchell.

Trained by Graeme Rogerson and Stephen Autridge, Alberto has been labelled a potential ‘Guineas horse’ and the stylish son of Magic Albert certainly has the pedigree to suggest he should easily cope with a mile.

Bred in New Zealand at Blandford Lodge and sold to Rogerson for $77,500 at the 2005 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale, Alberto is the third foal of the Honor Grades (USA) mare Ballet Honours, a half-sister to Group One winner Lord Majestic.

His grandam Ballet Girl II (GB) was a stakes-winner in France and her descendants include classy stakes mares Ugachaka and Country Rose, as well as Singapore champion Bocelli.

Given the vast number of mares in Australia carrying one or more strains of the legendary sire Danzig, it is of particular interest that Alberto is from a Danzig line mare. Magic Albert is completely free of Northern Dancer blood, so appeals as a logical and now proven choice to partner such mares.

The Stephen Theodore trained gelding Magic Jet made it two wins from two starts when beating a competitive field at Bendigo on Sunday and he too looks another bright prospect for Magic Albert.

August 2nd, 2008

Yarraman Park based Magic Albert is the leading Australasian first season sire in terms of individual first crop winners with 12 in Australia and two in New Zealand.

Magic Albert's 14 winners include metropolitan performers Alberts Return, Maritess, Renmin Road, General Albert and Magi Joy, plus the talented Kiwi based pair Alberto and Magic Cape, a six length winner at Ellerslie at his only appearance.

“He’s done an outstanding job in producing plenty of winners and the general consensus seems to be that his stock will only improve with maturity,” said Arthur Mitchell.

Magic Albert was a high-class juvenile, but his best performances came at three when he defeated multiple Group One winner Excellerator to win the Group Two STC Peter Pan Stakes and champion two and three-year old Viscount to win the Group Three Newcastle Spring Stakes.

The son of evergreen sire Zeditave has emulated the performance of his stud companion, Catbird, who was also the leading first season sire by individual winners for Yarraman Park with 15 Aussie winners to his credit in the 2003/2004 racing season.

With his oldest progeny now turned five, Catbird has just completed his most successful year on the track with progeny earnings for the past season tallying in excess of $3.3 million.

Golden Slipper winner Catbird was responsible for six individual stakes-winners during the past season highlighted by his first Group One
winner, Cats Fun, which took out the WATC Derby Gr 1.

His other Black Type winners were: Collate, Diego Garcia, Jumlah, Harb and Catechuchu. The latter four are all juveniles, which helped to make Catbird the sixth leading sire of two-year olds in Australia by earnings.

“We’d like to thank breeders for their support as Catbird is fully booked this season and Magic Albert is not far behind him,” added Mitchell.

July 10th, 2006

Yarraman Park's Magic Albert produced a promising colt when Alberts Return completed a winning hat-trick in the Seppelt Wines Hcp (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. 

Albert Return (ex Peignoir by Tights) had too much class on his opposition, scoring by 2-1/4 lengths from Grand Reve (Canny Lad - Recce by Spectacular Love) with Tayrhiana (Carnegie - Satin 'n' Silk by Zabeel) got home well for third a further long neck away. 

Alberts Return is trained by Sue Birney at Ballina, and the colt has recorded three wins from seven starts and will be sent for an immediate spell.

Alberts Return was purchased from the 2005 Magic Millions Premier sale for just $40,000 by Birney's long-time client Warren Cupitt, who also owned one of Birney's best horses, Nevet. 

"The horse is not for sale. There's not much of him but he's got a big heart. 

"He's going to the paddock for a spell tomorrow which is perfect as I'm going to Calgary in Canada next week for a holiday." 

Alberts Return's win took his prizemoney to almost $43,000 thus repaying his owners' purchase price. 

Alberts Return is a son of former top sprinter Magic Albert from the Tights mare Peignoir who won two races from 14 starts in Sydney in the early 1990s for Cups king Bart Cummings. 

Birney has no major plans in mind with Alberts Return when he comes back from a winter recess. 

"I'll just take him through his classes," she said. 

June 13th, 2006

It was fitting that Damien Oliver should return to the winners enclosure at Moonee Valley on the Queens Birthday holiday meeting, as it was the same track that his career was almost ended. 

Ridding the Lee Freedman-trained juvenile, Renmin Road, Oliver bounced him away from his barrier.  Travelling on the speed, Renmin Road raced sweetly for Oliver and when they swung for home, Oliver urged the son of Magic Albert to dig deep when challenged by Sazonar before scoring by three-quarters-of-a-length.

The winter crowd gave Oliver, a warm ovation as he returned to scale on Renmin Road. 

January 1st 2006

At Kembla Grange on Saturday, promising young sire Magic Albert chalked up his first winner when Morgan Butler drove the Gary Portelli trained Maritess passed the favourite Inlet Bay on the point of the turn to kick away in the straight to score a decisive 2-1/4 length win in a juvenile maiden over 1000m.

Having her second career start after debuting at Canberra on December 13th, when third, Maritess (ex Positive Flyer by Full And By) defeated Inlet Bay (Strategic) with Dashing Zoe (Zariz) a further two and a half lengths back in third clocking a slick 58.81.

Raced by a syndicate that includes Harry Lawton who purchased Maritess for $30,000 at the 2004 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale. She is the fourth named foal of the winning Full And By mare Positive Flyer, a daughter of the AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) heroine Dinky Flyer (Balmerino).  Positive Flyer was sold at the 2005 Easter Broodmare Sale for $30,000 with a positive test to Zeditave. She subsequently foaled a filly on October 10. 

Magic Albert (Zeditave) retired to Yarraman Park Stud in 2002 as the winner of seven of his 13 starts including victories in the Group 2 Peter Pan Stakes and Group 3 Spring Stakes. 

Magic Albert has 11 yearlings on offer at the forth coming Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

January 16th, 2005

First season sire Magic Albert has been warmly welcomed at the Inglis Classic yearling sale with eight yearlings changing hands during the first day of selling for an average price of $47,938. 

Star Thoroughbreds and Slade Bloodstock were quick to snap up yearlings by Magic Albert, with Denise Martin from Star Thoroughbreds paying $115,000 for a filly from Group 2 placed Pagan Dance, while Slade Bloodstock secured a filly from stakes-placed Kashkrop (NZ) for $77,500.

Buyers keen to purchase yearlings by Yarraman Park based Magic Albert will have good opportunities during the second session with a further seven lots on offer including Lot 323, the half-brother to stakes-placed Magic Heights from Sovereign Heights offered by Booralie Stud.