Jungle Magnate (NZ) Charges to Chairman’s Win

Showing outstanding stamina and power, Jungle Magnate (NZ) (Tarzino) launched a withering run from a distant 12th to win Saturday’s A$127,250 Group Three Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) at Morphettville. 

Bought for $75,000 from Westbury Stud’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2020, Jungle Magnate has now had eight starts for three wins, two placings and A$230,595 in stakes.

Patiently ridden by Damien Oliver, Jungle Magnate dropped way out near the back of a strung-out field of 15 three-year-olds. Oliver brought him to the outside at the home turn and let him rip, rapidly charging to the front before holding out the challenge of favourite Harleymoven (Foxwedge) by three-quarters of a length.

“He is heading the right way,” Oliver said. “The strong pace suited him today and he hit the line full of running, so it was a good effort. Harleymoven challenged us strongly, but he fought him off well."

The Chairman’s Stakes was the first black-type win for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained Jungle Magnate, who had previously placed in the Group Two Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) in the spring.

Price also trained Jungle Magnate’s sire Tarzino (NZ), who won the Group One Victoria Derby (2500m) and Rosehill Guineas (2000m) before retiring to Westbury Stud, where he has now sired two stakes-winning Karaka graduates from his first three-year-old crop. The first was Gypsy Goddess (NZ), who won the Group Three Grand Prix (2100m) in Brisbane before placing in the Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) and Vinery Stud Stakes (1850m).

“We are buying the Tarzinos,” Price said. “We know the breed. They are tough horses. They are good-boned horses. They have scope, good size and strength about them, and he is doing a good job, that stallion.

“They make very good 2000-metre horses and Derby and Oaks types. We saw David Vandyke’s filly (Gypsy Goddess) run very well on a bog track when second in the Australian Oaks.

"You shouldn’t be doing much with them as two-year-olds. He (Jungle Magnate) is just a horse that we’ve looked after with these races in mind.

“We did run him in the VRC Derby, but he was a bit over the top that day. But we have had a nice program for him this preparation. I think he’ll be back for the South Australian Derby (Group One, 2500m, May 14). I think he’ll get the distance, and let’s hope he can win."