TRAINER Robbie Griffiths is backing the class of King Magnus to carry his big weight in the VRC-CRV Winter Championship (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
King Magnus finished a close fifth in the 2021 Group 1 Cantala Stakes over the 1600 metres at Flemington and was also competitive in the 2022 Doncaster when he had an unlucky run and finished less than five lengths from Mr Brightside.
Griffiths decided to give King Magnus a year off after he finished sixth at Flemington over 1700 metres on Anzac Day 2022.
Griffiths and co-trainer Matt De Kock thought King Magnus would benefit physically from having the year off.
Since returning in 2023 King Magnus followed his first-up fifth at Sandown with successive wins over 1400 metres at Flemington.
Griffiths believes King Magnus can still be competitive in Group 1 races in the spring.
The trainers have decided to stay with apprentice Tom Stockdale to ride him as he has won on his at his past two starts.
Favourite in the race is the Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace trained Charterhouse who ran home strongly at his Australian debut to finish third behind King Magnus over 1400 metres at Flemington on June 3.
BEST BET:
JIMMY THE BEAR (R8, No.7): Blinkers go on for the first time. He has been set for this and is ready to fire.
