Trainer John Size has a lot of fun with his private purchased griffins and Good Friends Magic is on the right path to riches following a pleasing third in the Class Four Friendship Bridge Handicap (1,200m) on the all-weather track at Sha Tin.
In a steady as she goes attitude in his training following his debut run last month, he looked in grand shape for his weekend task.
He jumped with the field from gate seven, allowed to ease back to a position behind midfield and on the rails, came one off upon straightening, and had to gear down at the 300m when short of room. He then peeled outside a flat Sunshine Kid into a position with three wider out at the 250m and came with a bold move over the final 150m to get up in the shadows of the post to snatch third, with a half-length separating him from the short-head winner Hearts Keeper and Jade Pippio.
Good Friends Magic is an Australian-bred son of super speedy Testa Rossa and Barathea mare Show No Restraint.
Testa Rossa was victorious on 13 occasions up to a mile in Australia and has had some local success as a sire with eight performers over 1,000m to 1,800m on both turf and dirt at Sha Tin and Happy Valley. Show No Restraint won at 1,200m and is a half-sister to Slanchyvah, a southern hemisphere performer that was successful from 1,600m to 2,000m.
The three-year-old is a half-brother to three winners, including Fearless Gun (by Bite The Bullet), who was successful seven times on the turf, all-weather and sand in South Africa from 1,450m to 2,000m.
Size is again in the hunt at the top for trainers' title and Good Friends Magic is more than likely going to contribute to the stable's chances.
