Our exciting young Hellbent has had a number of horses showing Group I potential and now has his first Group I winner on the board with talented four year-old mare Magic Time surging to new heights to win the $1million Group I MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Ridden by Michael Dee for Grahame Begg, Magic Time came with a sweeping run from midfield to defeat I Am Invincible mare I Am Me by a length giving the Yarraman sires a G1 quinella.

Our third Yarraman sire Brave Smash (Jpn) was also in the G1 mix on Saturday siring Kimochi to finish a gallant second in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas, while his three year-old colt Brave Mead was second in the $500,000 Group III MRC Blue Sapphire Stakes.

With her fourth stakes success, Magic Time advances her record to five wins and two thirds from eight starts with earnings of $1,205,775.

Magic Time carries the colours of her breeder, John Muir’s Milburn Creek Thoroughbred Stud, after failing to make her $150,000 reserve at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

She was sent to be trained by Grahame Begg, who has had past success for John and Trish Muir with multiple Group I winning mare Secret Admirer.

Grahame Begg said switching Magic Time to the Rupert Clarke was a late decision.

“We had the plan to take her to Sydney,” Begg revealed.

“The Invitation was the race we set her for up there, and we could have left her up there to run in the Hot Danish last week, but I thought I’d bring her back, run her in the handicap with 53 (kilos) on her back.

“I thought it was a great race for her. 1400 metres, good speed on, the right recipe for her and she’s got the job done.

“I said to Michael before the race don’t change anything just because the track is racing that way on speed. Be positive out of the gates, but get cover, don’t work up the hill and give her the opportunity to round her race off and she certainly did that.”

MAGIC TIME (Hellbent – Time Awaits) ridden by Michael Dee wins the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (G1). Thousand Guineas Day at Caulfield Racecourse.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Bronwen Healy – The Image is Everything
© The Image is Everything – Bronwen Healy & Darren Tindale Photography

Magic Time was the third leg of a 4-timer at Caulfield for Michael Dee.

“She’s usually a mare that naturally puts herself on speed and I always knew there was going to be a massive amount of speed in this,” Dee said.

“We didn’t get any favours, she’s done it tough, punched the breeze and got pushed wider on the corner.

“To her credit that was a super effort.”

Magic Time is the first foal of Group III winning Nicconi mare Time Awaits, whose two year-old colt by Dundeel was sold by Milburn Creek at Inglis Easter for $300,000 to Freedman Racing/Julian Blaxland.

Time Awaits has a yearling colt by Maurice (Jpn), but no foal this spring after missing to Wild Ruler.

Magic Time is the first Group I winner for Hellbent, who is working through a full book at Yarraman Park at a fee of $38,500.

Images: The Image Is Everything