Vaughn Sigley is confident Magnifisio can bounce back from her Winterbottom Stakes defeat and salvage lost pride in the Group 3 A.J. Scahill Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on Saturday.
The Magnus mare had her colours by Queensland star Buffering last week who took full advantage of a track bias to record his second win in three years in the Group 1 feature.
Jockey Jason Brown had no option but to snag Magnifisio back from her wide draw, however; on a day that favoured on pace runners, she had too much ground to recover.
Sigley said Magnifisio, who ran 13th to Buffering, had recovered well from the Winterbottom Stakes and was spot on to back up in the Scahill Stakes.
“You have to basically forget she went around because she had no hope,” Sigley said on TABradio.
“She has done well since the run and she hasn’t taken any ill effect.
“She is obviously on the quick back up but she will be fine.”
Sigley takes a two-pronged attack into the Scahill Stakes and has cautioned supporters not to dismiss, Dawn Approach, who finished one spot ahead of Magnifisio in the Winterbottom after racing wide throughout.
Dawn Approach has the recent edge over his more favoured stable mate after splitting Akhedasset and Magnifisio in the Group 3 Prince Of Wales Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on October 24.
“You would probably expect to lean towards Magnifisio but Dawn Approach has beat her home both times,” Sigley said.
“Everyone keeps dismissing him, but maybe the 1400m will suit Magnifisio better.”
Sigley considers the Dan Morton-trained Waterman’s Bay, runner-up in the Winterbottom, as the biggest threat to his two charges.
The Eternity Range gelding is chasing successive wins in the Scahill after running over the top to defeat Magnifisio last year.
“Without a doubt Watermans Bay is the one to beat,” Sigley said.
“I would imagine he will be hitting the line pretty strong.
“He is the class act of the field.”
Watermans Bay has drawn the outside gate in barrier seven. William Pike reclaims the mount from Steven Arnold who rode him in the Winterbottom.
Magnifisio has drawn barrier four for Jason Brown.
Dawn Approach and Takahide Ikenushi combine from an inside gate.
RWWA: Julio Santarelli