Rey Magnerio primed for 2024 The Meteorite blockbuster at Cranbourne

Trainer Robbie Griffiths expects Rey Magnerio to handle the switch from Flemington straight to tight turning Cranbourne on Saturday in the inaugural $1m The Meteorite.

Rey Magnerio (middle) denied Robrick (yellow) and Front Page at Flemington. Picture: Michael Klein

Trainer Robbie Griffiths expects Rey Magnerio to handle the switch from Flemington straight racing to tight-turning Cranbourne in the inaugural $1m The Meteorite on Saturday.

Rey Magnerio has drawn ideally in barrier four for the 1200m sprint on Cranbourne Cup Day.

“It is a bit of a different dimension track for him, a horse coming off straight racing,” Griffiths said.

“Cranbourne is a totally different format, they’ve got to be on pace but anyway, we’ll give it a crack and see how he goes.”

Favourite Baraqiel drew barrier eight, with fancied opposition Nadal and Arkansaw Kid in gates 10 and 13 respectively.

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Rey Magnerio bookended the Melbourne Cup carnival with a narrow Group 3 defeat down the famous Flemington straight and then lifted off the canvas late to win a Listed 1200m.

“It’s funny – a lot of people think he can’t run 1200m, but more so he had things go wrong on the Saturday before and he probably should’ve won,” Griffiths said.

“In our eyes he should’ve but he made amends on the final day. He looked like he was going to be second or third and he really dug deep.

“It just goes to show his determination and will to win.

“He’s pulled up super and hopefully we can take the next step in The Meteorite.”

What. A. Finish. 😤

REY MAGNERIO finally comes out on top, claiming victory in the Cirka Always Welcome Stakes.

🎥 @wwos | #StakesDay | #MelbCupCarnivalpic.twitter.com/tI4o80WOjH

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 9, 2024

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The bombproof five-year-old has won seven of 16 starts and placed a further six times.

Cranbourne stalwart and Australian Trainers’ Association president Griffiths hailed Southside Racing for its new $1m slot series – The Meteorite and next month’s The Supernova.

“It’s going to be harder to win (as set weights and penalties), the higher-rated horses will be better weighted, but that’s the nature of good races,” Griffiths said.

“I think the club would be pretty happy with the result, with the quality of the race.

“Southside is really going ahead with the merger and having a $1m race at both venues I think is really good.”

The barrier draw for the $1M Meteorite is locked! Who are the winners and losers? ☄️🔒 pic.twitter.com/pyMKl6CK17

— Southside Racing (@SthsideRacing) November 19, 2024

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A history of milestone success has Griffiths enthused about The Meteorite as well as the opportunity to send off co-trainer Mathew de Kock with another feature winner.

“We won the inaugural 1600m running of the Cranbourne Cup,” Griffiths said.

“We won the first race at Pakenham when they opened the track, hopefully we can win The Meteorite and get the trifecta.”

The training partnership is set to end with de Kock to return home to South Africa next year.

“It’d be magic (to win The Meteorite), you strive for these events, especially milestone ones like that, it would be a big thrill to send him home (a winner) so to speak.”

Originally published as Rey Magnerio primed for 2024 The Meteorite blockbuster at Cranbourne