No surprise to see an ex-pat West Australian win Saturday's $1 million Group I Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville but it was more of a surprise it was Vega Magic rather than the favourite son Black Heart Bart claiming the rich prize.
The third leg of a stakes 4-timer for Craig Williams, Vega Magic was making his first start for David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig.
The 4yo son of Lope de Vega (IRE) was sensationally supported in the betting ring, firming into $4.80 second favourite behind last year's winner Black Heart Bart.
Racing handy to the pace set by stablemate Faatinah, Vegas Magic finished powerfully to defeat Missrock (Fastnet Rock) by three-quarter of a length with Casino Wizard (Any Given Saturday) a long neck away third.
Previously trained by Sean Casey for brothers Wally and George Daly, Vega Magic advances his record to 10 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third from 15 starts for earnings of $1,359,550.
"He had a lot of the Redkirk Warrior's about him before he won the Newmarket," David Hayes said
"The trackwork he was doing he just had to be an outstanding horse.
"He's a big athletic horse that arrived over from Perth about ten weeks ago in great order."
Hayes the $A10 million The Everest, at Randwick in October, could be a race that would suit Vega Magic.
"He could be an ideal horse for The Everest," Hayes said. "Someone might have a ticket they might like to share with us."
Last season at three, Vega Magic had a decision over the top-class Scales Of Justice over 1200 metres at Ascot.
His owner-breeders, Wally and George Daly, were great supporters of the former Patinack Farm shuttler Lope De Vega (IRE) who emulated his sire Shamardal (USA) by winning both the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des
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Vegas Magic is the first of those foals, the second, 3yo filly Vega Dior has had one start, the third, a filly died after birth and the fourth is a yearling colt.
A winner herself over 1000 metres at Ascot, Admirable won or placed in five of her seven starts.
Her granddam, Starlight Express, is a sister to Century Miss, the 1979 Group 1 Golden Slipper heroine who is the granddam of Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint winner Natural Blitz.
After missing to Hallowed Crown in 2015, Admirable was covered by Shooting To Win last spring.
Vega Magic becomes the fourth Group I winner for Lope De Vega (IRE) and the first from his time in Australia.
It is also a Group I first for Magic Albert as a broodmare sire.
