Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Byford trainer Katja Warwick is riding on the crest of a wonderful wave, and she continued her recent run of successes when Chris Lewis drove the brilliant Machnificent to an effortless victory in the $31,000 Members Sprint at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Machnificent, the $1.20 favourite, was not extended in setting the pace from the prized No. 1 barrier and winning by two lengths from $18 chance Cordero, who enjoyed a perfect passage behind the pacemaker throughout. The final three quarters were run in 28.9sec., 28.3sec. and 27.6sec. and Machnificent rated 1.53.2 over the 1730m.
This gave Warwick six wins from her past 13 starters at Gloucester Park, with Machnificent contributing with four wins, a third and a fifth placing from six starts to boost his record to 64 starts for 17 wins, 17 placings and stakes of $257,674.
Machnificent also gave the 68-year-old Lewis a remarkable twelfth success in the Members Sprint.
Machnificent, a WA-bred six-year-old by Mach Three, is extremely versatile, being a superb frontrunner who also excels when driven with a sit and unwinds a powerful finishing sprint.
If he maintains his form Machnificent will contest feature events like the 2130m Lord Mayor’s Cup (February 16), the $50,000 Pinjarra Cup over 2692m (March 4), the Group 3 $48,5000 Mount Eden Sprint over 1684m at Pinjarra (March 18), the Governor’s Cup (April 5), the $1,250,000 Nullarbor slot race (April 19) and the $300,000 Fremantle Cup (April 26).