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Jim Taylor had the best sprinter in Western Australia at home as he produced Magnifisio to win the Winterbottom Stakes, after surviving a protest, at Ascot on Saturday.
After a build-up in which the visitors had taken all the limelight, it was Perth sprinters – one, two, three, four – over the 1200 metres as Magnifisio held off Watermans Bay and Shining Knight. Testamezzo was fourth.
"She is a good sprinter but she is three or four lengths off Barakey," Taylor said. "Where she makes up for that is that she is sound and that gets her a bit closer to him.
"She was a pretty good second-string to have when he got the virus. With him I had everyone ringing from all around Australia, this week I did not have one call because they were all worried about those horses from over in the east."
Magnifisio had to survive a protest by the runner-up after jockey Jason Brown came across from out wide to take up his position. Watermans Bay's rider Steven Arnold protested for interference after 100m. "Jason Brown came across at a right angle ... and gave me no chance to hold my position," Arnold told stewards. "I lost my position and at least a length and I was beaten a head."
West Australian chief steward Brad Lewis didn't take long to dismiss the objection stating Magnifisio "crowded rather than checked" Watermans Bay. He said he took into account Brown's evidence that Watermans Bay had 1100m to run him down.
Brown was delighted to get a good spot and was able to come into the race from the 600m and raced to lead Moment Of Change before holding out the late charges from Watermans Bay and Shining Knight.
"She has a good turn of foot and when she got in the clear, she was always going to be hard to hold out," he said.
Taylor said he could be tempted into bringing his mare to the east.
"She is the sort of horse we could travel because she is sound," Taylor said. "Barakey we can't go over there because of his leg, she is able to travel and she has proven she can match it with the best of them."
Favourite Angelic Light had the trail on the back of the leader but when Damien Oliver asked for the effort in the straight, there was not the usual sprint.
Godolphin's Sidestep lost his chance at barrier step when he hesitated and lost a length.
It was another hometown success in the Railway Stakes as William Pike produced a freakish ride as he found inside runs to get Elite Belle home by three-quarters of a length from Balmont Girl and Moriarty.
