Magic Time defied a less-than-ideal start to claim victory in the Expressway Stakes at Randwick, showcasing her explosive turn of foot.

The mare was slow to begin, finding herself towards the rear with little room to maneuver in the straight. But when a gap appeared around the 150m mark, Jordan Childs guided her through, and the Grahame Begg-trained five-year-old surged forward to defeat Iowna Merc ($8) by a half-neck, with Joliestar ($2.05 fav) finishing third, a neck behind.

“On paper, we thought she’d be closer to the lead, but she didn’t get away as planned,” Childs explained. “Once I got her out, I knew she was going to explode.”

Magic Time, a two-time Group 1 winner, will next race in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick in three weeks, with her autumn plans yet to be determined.

Begg has entered her for several key races, including the All Aged Stakes (1400m) and the Doncaster Mile (1600m).

“She’s effective on all ground, but if it gets wetter, she’ll be right in the mix,” Begg said.

Joliestar, the favourite, had a solid return despite struggling to keep up with the sprint. “She ran great, but the lack of tempo didn’t help,” said jockey Kerrin McEvoy. “She’ll improve with a better run next time.”