Taige Weir is still processing the significant achievement of having a Stakes winner in her stable, but she remains grounded and focused, ensuring no complacency sets in.
The young horsewoman from Ballarat is aiming for her maiden Group victory this Saturday at Sandown.
Weir has nominated Magna Sententia, a horse that demonstrated brilliance in its last start at Geelong winning a maiden, for the $400,000 Group 2 Sandown Guineas over 1600 metres.
This race follows just 11 days after Billycart secured Weir’s first Flemington winner in the Listed Batman Stakes on Melbourne Cup Day, an accomplishment she admits has been quite overwhelming.
“It’s been a very big week and I got carried away with the celebrations a little bit, but I’m dealing with that now and catching up on life,” Weir said with a laugh.
“It was just amazing. It’s been just over a week now, it’s just gone so quick and the support and the messages from everyone has been pretty cool. It’s very special.”
Weir confessed that last week she would not have predicted having the favourite for the Sandown Guineas, as the race had not even entered her thoughts until the effortless nature of Magna Sententia’s Geelong win.
The initial strategy for Magna Sententia was to qualify for the $250,000 Emerging Stars Final at Ballarat on December 5. However, the gelding’s commanding 5-3/4 length victory prompted a reassessment of her plans.
“We had him set for that race because we wanted to qualify him for the race on Ballarat Cup Day, that was the whole idea of it,” she said.
“But I wasn’t expecting that. He hit the front and I thought he was going to win, everything else was off the bridle trying to chase us, but I didn’t think we’d win by that much.
“I originally just put a (Guineas) nom in thinking we wouldn’t run, then I just the progressive acceptances and, while it’s still strong, it doesn’t look as strong as previous years, and I thought we better just have a crack.”
Magna Sententia’s success at Geelong was achieved over 1318m, with his previous two outings being at 1200m. Therefore, Saturday’s 1600m event represents a significant increase in distance. Nonetheless, Weir is confident that the trip will not present an obstacle for the gelding, as her partner and jockey Will Gordon has assured her that the Written By colt is suited to the distance.
The dam of Magna Sententia is Lake Sententia, a mare by California Dane, who is also the mother of Darkbonee, a competitor in the 2400m Group 2 Zipping Classic scheduled later on the Sandown card.
“Will, my partner, said last preparation, ‘this horse will be a really good miler’,” Weir shared.
“I’ve always had that in my back of my head and the data at home suggests that where his sweet spot is, so I don’t think that’s going to be an issue.”
Dean Yendall, who guided Billycart to her Flemington win and was aboard Magna Sententia at Geelong, will be the jockey on Saturday. Magna Sententia is currently the $4.20 favourite in the Guineas betting.
Consider the competitive racing betting markets for the Sandown Guineas at Australian betting sites.
