Sydney, January 10 – Magic Albert five year-old Hotel Casino resumed from a spell of 19 weeks to score a fast finishing win in the welter event over 1200 metres at Rosehill on Saturday taking his earnings in excess of $200,000.
Ridden a treat by apprentice jockey Jamie Quinnell, Hotel Casino settled in fifth place and when asked for an effort in the straight quickly obliged, charging home to win by a short neck.
“He’s so honest, he might not be the best horse every time, but he tries so hard,” said Quinnell.
Trained by Grahame Begg for a syndicate of eight owners that includes Yarraman Park, Hotel Casino has been a tough and consistent campaigner, his overall record standing at six wins and six placings from 21 starts with earnings of $217,270.
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.
Magic Albert also posted a winner at Magic Millions day on the Gold Coast when his four year-old son Three Little Words captured the $101,195 Queensland Events Magic Millions Maiden Plate over 1200 metres.
A $56,000 purchase from the draft of Craigow Stud at the 2005 Magic Millions Premier Yearling Sale, the Steele Ryan trained Three Little Words finished too well in the straight to get up and score by a head.
Three Little Words is from the city winning Rancho Ruler mare Bashaer, who has the perfect produce record of five winners from five runners.
