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  • Underdog Tag of Little Concern to Cole

    Wednesday, 10th March 2021

    After giving one Ellerslie Group 1 race a big shake, Steven Cole is hoping to do so again next weekend. Cole’s 3YO Iffie Shows (Showcasing-Spiffy Iffie, by Ifraaj) finished fifth at huge odds in the Gr1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), and the Byerley Park trainer is hoping to do even better when 2YO gelding Magneto (Showcasing-Trivial Pursuit, by Nom du Jeu) contests the Gr1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) for juveniles at Ellerslie on Saturday. Magneto has improved with each start since finishing eighth on debut in the Listed Counties Bowl (1100m) in November. He claimed third place behind Quattro Quinta (Darci Brahma) and Wolfgang (Puccini) in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m) at Trentham, before overturning the same two horses in the Gr3 Woburn Farm 2YO Classic (1200m) at New Plymouth three weeks later. “We put the side winkers on him for New Plymouth and they really switched him on, and we went there with plenty of confidence,” Cole said. “He’s come on with the run again, and his work on Saturday was superb really. Now we just have to hope we get a good draw. Hopefully he can put his hand up again and compete against the Te Akau team that will certainly be there,” accepted Cole, referring to the Jamie Richards-trained pair of Sword Of State (Snitzel) and On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau).