Victorian mare Magic Time right at home in Sydney as she chases another Group 1 victory in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick

Jordan Childs couldn’t be happier as he prepares to ride top mare Magic Time in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Victorian jockey Jordan Childs rates Magic Time right up there with the best and expects the gun mare to show it again at a happy hunting ground in Sydney on Saturday.

Magic Time, a brilliant winner of seven of 17 starts, loves racing in Sydney and gets the chance to enhance her record in the Group 1 $750,000 Canterbury Stakes (1300m).

The Grahame Begg-trained mare has had seven starts and has missed the placings only once, with Randwick victories in the Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes (2023), Group 1 All Aged Stakes (2024) as well as Group 2 Expressway Stakes last start.

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“I think Grahame sends her up there to try to get that bit of give in the track but in saying that, she didn’t have it last start and was still really effective on it,” Childs said.

“I think if she gets it on Saturday, that would be great but she is just a generally good racehorse and her record speaks for itself.

“She is right up there with the best and I am very happy going into Saturday.”

Childs was aboard in the PJ Bell Stakes triumph in the autumn of 2023 and again last start for her first-up Group 2 Expressway Stakes win on February 15.

Childs admitted on the day that he had to go to “Plan B” in the Expressway.

Magic Time was caught in a pocket with seemingly nowhere to go in a small field of six in the sprint and Childs had to wait patiently for the gap to come.

When it did, Magic Time exploded away to win with style.

Jordan Childs wins on Magic Time (right) in the Expressway Stakes at Randwick last start. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

“She always has a really good turn of foot,” Childs said.

“I was held up for a long time but once we did get that gap, she sprinted hard.

“She finished off and won so I think she is a just a very versatile horse.

“You can ride her where you want as long as she is in her comfort zone and she will be right there in the finish.”

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Magic Time is a $4.20 favourite for the Canterbury Stakes, which will be a part of the TAB World Pool.

She will meet a crack field that includes Group 1 winners Ceolwulf ($8), Here To Shock ($7), Militarize ($18), Celestial Legend ($26), Sunshine In Paris ($6), Stefi Magnetica ($8) and Switzerland ($5).

“It’s a very hot field and very competitive but it’s a Group 1 race so you expect that,” Childs said.

“I couldn’t be happier with the way she is going.

“She was really good last time and carries that form into Saturday.

“With a bit of rain forecast as well, that brings her into contention even more.”

Magic Time, a five-year-old by Hellbent, was purchased by racing and breeding powerhouse Yulong last spring and is already destined to be a valuable piece in its broodmare band.

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Childs will also partner promising youngster Tycoon Star for Yulong as the young colt attempts to cement himself on the operation’s stallion roster in years to come.

Tycoon Star, trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, can thrust himself into the frame for the $5m Golden Slipper frame in the Group 2 $300,000 Todman Stakes (1200m).

The gun son of Written Tycoon was hampered by a wide draw in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes before flashing home for third in the first two-year-old major of the season at Caulfield on February 22.

Childs has never ridden Tycoon Star but was eager to take the reins on the $9 hope.

“I am excited to be hopping on him,” he said.

“His Blue Diamond run was very good.

“He went back from a wide gate and rattled home.

“He has drawn nice enough on Saturday so hopefully we get a good run.”

Childs will partner two more Victorian raiders on the feature card with the steers on Rumbled Again ($15) in the Group 3 $250,000 Aspiration Quality (1600m) and Kundalini ($15) in the Group 3 $250,000 Wenona Girl Quality (1200m).

Originally published as Victorian mare Magic Time right at home in Sydney as she chases another Group 1 victory in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick