Sydney, August 21 – Top class Magic Albert four year-old Ilovethiscity returned to racing at Warwick Farm last Saturday with a gallant second to Pinwheel in the Group II ATC Warwick Stakes over 1400 metres.
The Grahame Begg trained entire stood on a nail during the week, which caused some concern leading into this first up assignment, but he produced his customary strong finishing burst to power into second place, albeit finding the heavy conditions far from ideal.
“We were pretty happy with that under the trying conditions,” Begg said.
“He probably got exposed a little bit early at the top of the straight but he stuck it out pretty good.”
Winner of the Group I ATC Randwick Guineas last season at three, Ilovethiscity (pictured courtesy Steve Hart) looks set for another good campaign with his immediate targets being the Group I ATC George Main Stakes and Epsom Handicap.
A $40,000 purchase for his trainer from the Fairview Park Stud draft at the 2009 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Ilovethiscity is raced by a large syndicate who enjoyed previous success with another smart Begg trained winner Handsupfordetroit, whose BOBs bonuses were used to double up and purchase Ilovethiscity.
Ilovethiscity has already won $829,300 with the promise of more to come this spring.
Ilovethiscity is the fifth living foal of the Kenfair mare Kensington Rose (NZ), whose dam is a three-quarter sister-in blood to high class miler Dalmacia, who was trained by Neville Begg to win races such as the Group One AJC Epsom Handicap.
This is also the family of champion racehorse and sire Lonhro as well as Group I winners Grosvenor, Mahaya and Niello.
Kensington Rose was covered again by Magic Albert last spring so is expecting a full sibling to Ilovethiscity.
Magic Albert has picked up where he left off last season siring 12 winners since August 1.
