Magnitude retired

Press, 22 January 1988, Page 29

Magnitude retired

Special correspondent Palmerston North Magnitude, one of the best sprinter-milers produced in this country for many years, has run his last race. The Amalgam seven-vear-old, raced by Jim Bull and trained at Awapuni by his sister, Margaret, received a slight knock on a foreleg when preparing to race at the Hawke’s Bay New Year meeting.

Magnitude had starred in a novelty race against lan Ferguson between races at Manawatu on December 28. He pulled up sound but aggravated

the injury when working in preparation for the Hawke’s Bay meeting. Rather than risk further serious injury, and mindful that Magnitude would be asked to carry big weights for the remainder of his racing career, it has been decided to retire him. Magnitude had a special affinity with his home track at Awapuni, where he won 10 races. But his biggest success came in the Epsom Handicap in Sydney, Magnitude winning in 1985 the same day as his stablemate, Lacka Reason, was winning the Turnbull

Stakes at Flemington. Magnitude had his last New Zealand start in the Easter at Ellerslie last season. He ran last but was not suited by the wet track. Later he was taken to Australia for the autumn carnival, and at what turned out to be his last race, he finished second to Campaign King in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick. Magnitude, by Amalgam from Beauty Spot, was purchased by Bull at the National Yearling Sale. He cost just $7OOO and with stake earnings of $470,550 proved to be one of the best bargain buys.