Magnaspin has returned to winning form after racing his way into peak condition to score an all-the-way victory at Caulfield.
The Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained gelding claimed the A Caulfield Kind Of Summer Handicap (2000m), breaking a drought that dated back to May last year.
Jamie Melham sent Magnaspin straight to the front after 200 metres and was never headed, holding on for a half-length win.
The $3.90 chance accounted for favourite Jenni’s Meadow ($2.70), with Regal Lion ($15) finishing a short-neck away in third.
Larkin said the stable was confident Magnaspin would improve with racing as they focused on fitness and settling.
“Last preparation he was wanting to get it over and done with and wasn’t finishing his races off,” Larkin said.
“We elected to give him a really good break. He had eight weeks in the paddock and we built him up nice and slowly so there was a lot of fitness benefit from each run.
“If you ask him for too much of an effort early in the preparation it gets him over-racing, so to get him out to this trip we needed to get his head down and start settling, and he’s really done a good job of it.”
Larkin also praised Melham’s judgement in front.
“You leg her on and you have a lot of confidence in the rider,” Larkin said.
“She summed it up really well, she just let him come across early in the race and she rated him really well.”
While no firm plans are locked in, the stable is hopeful Magnaspin can be competitive in a 2000-metre Listed race later in the campaign.