Jungle Magnate (NZ) Follows in Father’s Group One Footsteps

Tarzino (NZ) went from a $45,000 price tag at Karaka to Group One glory on the racetrack and a place on Westbury Stud’s stallion roster, and on Saturday his first-crop son Jungle Magnate (NZ) followed his example with an elite triumph of his own.

Himself bought for $75,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2020, Jungle Magnate triumphed in the A$500,000 Group One Thomas Farms South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville. His nine-start career has now produced four wins, two placings and A$506,415 in stakes – more than seven times his purchase price.

An impressive come-from-behind winner of the Group Three Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) two weeks ago, Jungle Magnate was rated among the leading chances for Saturday’s Derby, and he relished the extra 500 metres and lived right up to expectations.

Patiently ridden by Mark Zahra, Jungle Magnate launched a huge run from third-last and bounded to the front halfway down the Morphettville straight.

Yaphet (Blackfriars) and fellow Karaka graduate Detonator Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) chased hard through the final 200 metres, but Jungle Magnate showed no signs of slowing down and swept past the finish line with a margin of a length and three-quarters up his sleeve.

“He's a horse that can get pulling and there looked to be good speed on paper, so my main objective was to get him to switch off," Zahra said.

“I just came out on his neck and we were back near last, but he was very relaxed, which was good for him. It was just a matter from the 1000 metres onwards to pick the right path to go through.

“They looked to be jamming up a bit too much towards the inside for me, so I elected to come out and we ended up going around them. When I asked him at the 600-metre mark, boy did he let rip.

“I was asking him a bit early, but he's got a big stride, he's a lovely stayer and I just wanted to keep his momentum going and he was strong – it was a very good win.”

Jungle Magnate is trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. Notably, Price was also the trainer of Tarzino during a 14-start career that featured Group One triumphs in the Victoria Derby (2500m) and Rosehill Guineas (2000m). Tarzino has already sired 15 individual winners, with his first crop also featuring the Group Three winner and Group One-placed Gypsy Goddess (NZ).

“We bought Tarzino in New Zealand and put some really good people into the ownership,” Price said.

“That stallion is doing a good job, and we've got a few of them that we think go well. This time next year, I reckon we'll have another big, strong Tarzino back here for the Derby.

“When we ran this horse in the Victoria Derby in the spring, he’d had enough and was on the way down, but we had it pegged right this time.

“He had a good spell, a good prep and a big circle around this race as his peak point. It was a nice ride by Mark Zahra, who is one of the best Group One riders in Australia.”

Third-placed Detonator Jack lost few admirers with his third placing, which was the first defeat of his four-start career. Passed in at Karaka 2020 with a reserve of $100,000, he has already earned A$114,475 in stakes.

Vendor	Westbury Stud
Purchaser	Mick Price Racing and Breeding (Victoria)
Breeding	Tarzino – The Love Of Money
Sale	Lot 349, Karaka 2020 Book 1, $75,000
Bred by	G Harvey