Sydney, December 22 – Promising Magic Albert gelding Hotel Casino notched his first win with a stylish victory in the maiden event over 1250 metres at Canterbury on Thursday night.
Prepared by Grahame Begg, the three-year old enjoyed the run of the race in third spot on the rails before being switched around the leader by Glen Boss at the top of the straight, going on to score by a length and a half.
Hotel Casino has missed a cheque just once in five starts to date and with his maiden win now behind him, can no doubt measure up to further metropolitan success.
“Glen (Boss) shoved them out of the way at the top of the straight and he won nicely,” said Grahame Begg,
“He was a lot fitter for his first up run and we’ll now look to place him through his grades.”
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.
Hotel Casino is the 17th individual Australian winner this season for Magic Albert who leads the second season sires table by winners and has a Group One winner on his resume thanks to NZ based three-year old Magic Cape, winner of the NZ 2000 Guineas.
Magic Albert will have slim representation at major yearling sales this year although does have seven catalogued for Magic Millions and a further three for the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
