Ace trainer Aiden De Campo had three runners in the $31,000 $9 Pints Every Friday when Joey Suvaljo drove a copybook race to land Magnus Victor, the least fancied of the stablemates, to a strong victory in the 2536m event.
Magnus Victor, a $16.20 chance from out wide at barrier seven, settled down in eighth position while Hotly Pursued ($7) was setting a solid pace, with $9 chance Ima Five Star General racing without cover, but almost three lengths from the pacemaker.
With 900m to travel Gary Hall jnr urged last-start winner and $2.75 favourite Better Eclipse forward with a three-wide burst. And it was then that Suvaljko made the what was to prove the winning move, switching Magnus Victor three wide in front of Better Eclipse and then taking the ideal one-out, one-back sit behind the favourite, who had moved to the breeze.
Better Eclipse took a narrow lead 120m from the post but was unable to hold out Magnus Victor, who got up in the final couple of strides to win by a half-length, after Suvaljko had waited until the 250m mark before sending Magnus Victor forward with a spirited three-wide burst. The final quarters were run in 28.1sec. and 28.7sec. with the winner rating 1.57.3.
Ima Five Star General ran on to finish third, with De Campo’s other runners, Sorridere ($7) and Menemsha ($9.50) finishing fourth and tenth, respectively.
The 22-year-old Suvaljko is enjoying his most successful season, with Magnus Victor giving him his 84TH winner for the year. Magnus Victor, a WA-bred five-year-old by Sweet Lou, has earned $226,274 from 18 wins and 23 placings from 73 starts.
De Campo’s other winners on the night were Dame Valour and The Wildcard.
The Wildcard was the $4.60 favourite from the outside of the back line in the 1730m NYE Entry Tickets Pace, and the noted frontrunner excelled in a different role, racing at the rear before surging home from seventh at the bell to hit the front with 250m to travel before holding on grimly to beat $11 chance Rockstar Quality, who ran on strongly after trailing the pacemaker Hotfoot It ($5) all the way.
The Wildcard, a six-year-old by Fly Like An Eagle, has raced 72 times for 12 wins, 16 placings and $105,510.
