Brett Crawford became the first Cape-based trainer since Joey Ramsden in 2001 to saddle the Gr2 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile winner – coincidentally also with an Australian bred – when Hudoo Magic swept forward late to grab top honours in Saturday’s Turffontein headliner.
The enthusiastic Yeni repeated his success of 2018 on Coral Fever and rode a beautifully judged race on the handily weighted son of Choisir, with the winner’s cheque in the balance until the final 100m of the race.
Hudoo Magic (Muzi Yeni) keeps Charles (Callan Murray) at bay to win his first feature (Pic – JC Photos)
After the Azzie’s Orpheus kept the pace honest, leading Crown Towers and the blinkered Zillzaal, the race turned into a stampede late in the running as former Brett Crawford galloper Charles looked a likely winner.
But under a driving ride down the middle from Muzi Yeni, Hudoo Magic (6-1) picked up his feet and finished best to register his maiden stakes success to beat former stablemate and Summer Cup hopeful Charles (10-1) by three quarters of a length in a time of 98,88 secs.
In another few smart Summer Cup preps, Youcanthurrylove (20-1) was a neck back in third, with late reserve runner Tree Tumbo (20-1) finishing best of the Tarry quintet, ahead of stablemate Zillzaal, ho is defending his Gr1 crown at the end of November.
The top six finished within two lengths of the winner.
Hudoo Magic has been based with former Crawford assistant Peter Muscutt at Summerveld for much of this year. Muscutt recently went on his own.
An A$60,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Stonehouse Thoroughbreds draft for Form Bloodstock, Hudoo Magic was bred by Richard Pegum and is one of three winners from Hudoo (GB), a daughter of Halling and a three-quarter sister to international Caulfield Cup winner All The Good.
He has won 4 races with 8 places from 18 starts for stakes of R395 275.
