Robbie Griffiths has not been in the best of health in recent times but if he needed a pick-me-up he found it with his homebred Magnus gelding Halvorsen who had the honour of being the first stakes-winner in Australia in 2020 when he powered to victory in the Group III Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
Celebrating his first black-type victory Halvorsen was re-united with the now Queensland-based jockey Andrew Mallyon for a one and a quarter length win over the favourite Bold Star with Superhard another three-quarters of a length away third.
Halvorsen earns his stakes win - images Grant Courtney
"We still haven't reached the bottom of him, he just needed to fill out and mature and stop over-racing and now it’s getting exciting,” Mallyon said.
“I still think this horse is untapped, he still wears earmuffs and things like that. We haven’t got to the bottom of him, which is probably the most exciting part.”
Halvorsen's part-owner Don Healy said they have Group 1 aspirations for the 4yo son of Magnus.
"We bred this horse, Robbie and I and the other part-owners," Healy said.
"We raced the mother, Flourishing, and we raced the granddam. So, it's really good when you see a Group III win and it's a credit to everybody.
“Robbie is up in Queensland (Magic Millions) looking for yearlings to buy so this will increase his confidence levels .
Halvorsen a powerfully made son of Magnus
“I love Andrew he has a fabulous record on this horse, he knows him, he loves him, so it is really good.
“We will see how he pulls up. The (Listed) Kensington Stakes here in 10 days we will probably do that otherwise he will have a break and then have one start into the Goodwood if possible.”
The winner of his last three starts Halverson advances his record to 7 wins, 3 seconds and 2 thirds from 17 starts with earnings of $577,000.
He is the best of two winners out of the talented Not A Single Doubt mare Flourishing a 4-time winner in Melbourne who is a half-sister to the stakes-winner Beltrois (Bel Esprit) who finished second to Royal Ida in the Standish ten years ago.
Flourishing has an unraced 2yo Unencumbered filly named Halvoya a colt foal by Magnus and was bred to the Sun Stud stallion again last spring.
Halvorsen becomes the 21st stakes-winner for the prolific Magnus who has just one lot catalogued for the Magic Millions and five at the Inglis Premier.
