Rey Magnerio must finish top two in the Rubiton Stakes on Saturday at Caulfield to qualify for the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate

Progressive sprinter Rey Magnerio, who boasts a large ownership group and a legion of fans with six wins from nine starts, must finish top two on Saturday to qualify for the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate.

Rey Magnerio, ridden by Jye McNeil, overhauls Midtown Boss to win at Caulfield last Saturday. Picture: Pat Scala/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Rey Magnerio has tasked trainers Robbie Griffiths and Matthew de Kock with an unexpected but welcome scenario to explore — qualification for approaching Group 1 targets.

The four-year-old son of Magnus has thrived on competition, graduating from a Pakenham Synthetic debut success last July to Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) contender with six wins from nine starts.

A big finish last Saturday in an 1100m Benchmark 84 at Caulfield, in which he mowed down favourite Midtown Boss in class-record time, has forced a quick back-up into the Rubiton.

Rey Magnerio does it again! 👏

That's four wins from his last five starts 🔥 @[e-mail]/TaGbMqn76P

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 3, 2024

• ‘Nothing fazes him’: Trainer’s confidence in Rey Magnerio

“If he got beaten you wouldn’t be heading in that direction but his performance was so good we’re now really considering those big races,” de Kock said.

“To find our way into them is going to be really hard because we’re a win or two behind where we need to be.

“We really want to try and get him to an Oakleigh Plate or a Newmarket but with an 88 rating he’s going to struggle to get in so the options were not get in or run this Saturday and try and force our way in by running well, that is what faced us.”

We had to trim some of the footage due to some non PG language as he flipped out of the barriers but here are the scenes @thevalleyinngeelong when the bucks party that had been tipped REY MAGNERIO see him coming home in the last 350m #thisisracing#peopleshorsepic.twitter.com/E6WwhJv37p

— Griffiths de Kock Racing (@GriffithsdeKock) February 5, 2024

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The Oakleigh Plate is on February 24 at Caulfield while the Newmarket Handicap is on March 9 at Flemington.

Rey Magnerio is an $8 chance with TAB for the Rubiton behind only Group 1-placed mare Asfoora ($2.25), unbeaten in three 1100m starts at Caulfield.

The top two in the Rubiton qualify for the Oakleigh Plate – regardless of rating points.

Where is the ceiling for Rey Magnerio?

The @GriffithsdeKock team is eyeing off the Oakleigh Plate & Newmarket Handicap 👌 pic.twitter.com/mZPULzYZMP

— Racing.com (@Racing) February 8, 2024

• Shinn expects Blue Diamond contender to make a statement

“He’s got to do that,” de Kock said.

“It’s always been in the background (his potential) but Saturday’s performance showed us how good he really could be.

“He was powerful, he ran a really quick time, broke the class record, all indications are he can do it.”