Magnitude did his job to perfection, but the trip to Dubai is now on hold
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In a remarkable return to action, the Winchell Thoroughbreds horse won the Razorback Handicap, but the excursion in pursuit of the Dubai World Cup will be decided in a few days, given the military conflict in the Gulf
HOT SPRINGS, Arkansas (Special for Turf Diario).- The decisiveness shown by Magnitude over the 1,700 meters of the Razorback Handicap (G3) made it clear that Steven Asmussen's trainee has returned in his best form. However, his long-awaited trip to the Middle East to compete in the Dubai World Cup (G1) is now navigating a sea of uncertainty due to the political instability shaking the Gulf region.
Following a frustrated excursion to Saudi Arabia for the Saudi Cup (G1) due to a minor health setback, the defender of the Winchell Thoroughbreds silks found Oaklawn Park to be the ideal stage for his 4-year-old debut. Under a determined ride by Jose Ortiz, the son of Not This Time stalked the leader Nu What’s New (Munnings) through firm splits of 23s68/100, 47s38/100, and 1m11s28/100, before dominating with authority upon hitting the home straight.
Without being fully extended, Magnitude pulled away to a 3 3/4-length advantage over the runner-up, stopping the clock at 1m42s10 for the 1,700 meters—the fastest mark of the current season at that distance. The gray Gould’s Gold(Goldencents) finished third, another 3 1/3 lengths back, while Sandman (Tapit) disappointed completely, finishing in last place.
"It was beautiful to watch. He broke well, relaxed, and finished strong," said a satisfied Jose Ortiz after the victory of the heavy favorite, who paid a meager $3.60. For his part, Steve Asmussen was unstinting in his praise: "He’s always had tremendous talent, but I think this was his best performance to date."
Magnitude's victory brought inevitable comparisons to the 2017 campaign of Gun Runner (Candy Ride), who also used the Razorback as a "Plan B" before traveling to the United Arab Emirates. However, while the obstacles back then were health-related, the Winchells' concern today lies in the logistical security of transporting a Thoroughbred of this value to Meydan for the grand meeting scheduled for the 28th of this month, given the escalating tensions in the area.
With this triumph, the winner of the Clark Stakes (G2), the Risen Star Stakes (G2), and the Iowa Derby (L) raised his earnings to $1,584,365, the result of 6 wins in 12 starts. While the original goal was the $12 million prize in Dubai, the horse's connections will evaluate in the coming hours whether the transport risk outweighs the sporting ambition, or if the destination for the brand-new winner will be to remain on U.S. soil for the major spring fixtures.
