Evergreen gelding Rock Magic confirmed his standing as one of Perth’s best sprinters with an authoritative win in the Group 3 Belmont Sprint (1400m) on Saturday.
Given a trouble-free run behind the leaders, Rock Magic worked home strongly for jockey Jarrad Noske and scored by a neck from a brave Scales Of Justice.
Disposition rallied hard from ninth on the corner to finish close up in third place.
Railway Stakes champion, Scales Of Justice, racing first-up this campaign, failed to collect the winner’s purse, but lost no admirers in defeat after racing three wide outside of the leader.
Rock Magic, a rising eight-year-old, completed the second leg of a feature race double after taking out the Group 3 Roma Cup (1200m) at Ascot two weeks ago.
Gangemi said the son of Redoute’s Choice will head to the paddock for a short break before returning to have a crack at an interstate campaign.
Rock Magic will be aimed at the $450,000 Moir Stakes (1000m) and $1 million Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley and the $1 million VRC Sprint (1200m) at Flemington in the spring.
“He is a serious horse who is getting better with each preparation,” Gangemi said.
“He is sound with good legs and there is no reason why he doesn’t have another good year or two left in him.
“He landed in the perfect spot and got the run we thought, although Scales Of Justice had a hard run.
“He will probably have three or four weeks in the paddock which is the longest break he has had in a while.
“He will then come back for a couple of races in Melbourne before coming home for the Winterbottom.”
Rock Magic made his interstate debut for Gangemi in March when he ran a slashing 4th to Silent Sedition in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
His 14th victory from 39 starts capped a top day for Noske who in race two steered home exciting first starter, Illustrious Tycoon.
Noske said from barrier one the race mapped out perfectly for Rock Magic.
“I think he needed a cuddly run to win and he got that,” Noske said.
Julio Santarelli