Rey Magnerio primed for Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield

Rey Magnerio finished a credible ninth in last year’s Oakleigh Plate but has the right form to take out the Group 1 sprint at Caulfield on Saturday.

Rey Magnerio has the right form and most certainly desire to win the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) on Saturday at Caulfield.

Rey Magnerio resumed with a tenacious victory in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) and has continued to delight trainer Robbie Griffiths since.

Griffiths has planned to peak Rey Magnerio in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 8 with the Oakleigh Plate within striking distance.

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“It’s a good position to be in winning first-up because I do think he can take another step and he probably has to,” Griffiths said.

“Each campaign when the bar has been raised he’s answered the challenge, one thing he’s always done is improve throughout the racing campaign.

“When we say he’s going to be better third-up, even if he wins Saturday, he’ll be better again Newmarket day, that’s his ‘MO’ (modus operandi).”

Rey Magnerio finished ninth in the Oakleigh Plate last year – only beaten 2½ lengths – as a Benchmark 84 winner in his 10th career start.

The five-year-old Magnus gelding has won (twice) or placed in seven of the past eight starts.

Oakleigh Plate favourite Estriella touched off Rey Magnerio second-up last campaign.

Maharba, a subsequent Group 1 runner-up, pipped Rey Magnerio third-up by a bare margin.

He secured a Listed win at Flemington and then finished second to Nadal in The Meteorite.

Rey Magnerio (left) heads to the Oakleigh Plate after winning the Rubiton Stakes first-up. Picture: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos via Getty Images

“He doesn’t show you at home, his trackwork is pretty blasé, but the race-day data is starting to suggest he’s in the ‘proper horse’ category,” Griffiths said.

“Even when he was winning restricted races he beat Mornington Glory and he’s now a Group 1 winner.

“When you start going back through his form, Jimmysstar, Maharba, Mornington Glory, there’s a lot of horses suggesting he’s in the right level now.”

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Rey Magnerio is $10 for the Oakleigh Plate from Estriella ($4.20), She’s Bulletproof ($5) and I Am Me ($10).

Rey Magnerio has drawn nicely in gate five to camp just off the speed, including likely leader Estriella.

“Sometimes in the Oakleigh Plate you can’t catch the bunnies,” Griffiths said.

“It’s renowned for being won by the horse first around the corner … you got to be mindful of that too that the bunny doesn’t keep running on you.

“He’s in the right form and he does have a great desire to win, one thing about him, win, lose or draw he’s going to have a great hunger to get there. Hopefully he can.

“He’s going well enough to give it a good shake.”