With the Newhaven Park Country Championships NRRA heat nominations being released today one Grafton trained galloper was a notable omission.
Many in Grafton expected that Alf’s Magic would be one of the first entered for the event. However trainer Dwayne Schmidt has elected to head down a less travelled path.
Alf’s Magic has been in brilliant form winning his last three starts. His most recent victory was two weeks ago at Doomben when he led throughout to score a very easy win over 1200m in a 3yo Handicap. Ridden by leading rider Jim Byrne the colt went straight to the front dictated terms to a nicety before moving to the centre of the track to hold his advantage all the way to the post.
Schmidt said before that race the Doomben race he was sure Alf’s Magic would be improved by the outing and based on that most were of the view after the win that Schmidt would then target the Coffs Harbour Country Championship heat this Saturday. There was however always some private concern from the trainer as Alf’s Magic would need to step to 1400m for the first time on a track that is highly likely to be rain effected.
When nominations closed this morning however Alf’s Magic was not included in the entries which had all the experts scratching their heads. It only took an hour to unravel the mystery Schmidt and Alf’s Magic are heading north again to Doomben in search of another Brisbane win.
No doubt time will tell if the sidestepping of the Country Championship heat was indeed a master stroke but like everything in racing making a plan and having it come to fruition are often worlds apart.
