Trainer Robbie Griffiths is already plotting another WA raid after his top sprinter Rey Magnerio annexed the Group 3 The Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot on Saturday.
Griffiths had aimed the six-year-old son of Magnus at the recent Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes where he finished a close up third behind Libertad and Overpass.
But after coming through the run in splendid order, Griffiths elected to extend his time in WA for an extra fortnight, paying the late entry fee to contest the $1.5m The Gold Rush.
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And the prolific winner justified the decision, landing the Group 3 feature at his first foray to the 1400m journey.
“What a horse he is,” Griffiths said.
“He’s just so much fun for all of us that are involved in him. His Winterbottom run, Willie (Pike) thought he was a bit unlucky and we waited to see how he came through that run before deciding on this race.
“But honestly it was an easy decision to make because the next morning he was bouncing around and felt great.
“He’s thriving in the WA climate and he’s only had the four runs this preparation so he’s still very fresh.”
The Goldrush I Rey Magnerio
Rey Magnerio you star 🌟 The Victorian gelding has hunted down Overpass to secure 2025 THE GOLD RUSH 🏆
📺Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app pic.twitter.com/mYrATfa7N5
— Racing.com (@Racing) December 13, 2025
In a memorable finish, Rey Magnerio got the better of a tearaway Overpass late while Cosmic Crusader, dropping back in journey from last week’s Group 1 Northerly Stakes win, was charging home down the outside.
Rey Magnerio scored by a long neck on the line while Cosmic Crusader finished second, a nose ahead of Overpass.
In the aftermath of the win, Griffiths was quick to put next year’s The Quokka on the agenda, run and won over 1200m at Ascot.
“Yes, we’ll be back for sure,” the trainer said.
“He’s really taken to being over here so that’s a race definitely on the agenda.
“Just really proud of the horse. He deserved that.”
Rey Magnerio handed champion hoop Willie Pike a fourth win in The Gold Rush, declaring he learnt a lot about him in the Winterbottom.
“I think he waited a bit in the Winterbottom and there was a bit more that I could dip into today,” Pike said.
“So I took that into today and we got the chocolates.”
The win capped off a red-letter day for Pike who steered home four winners on the program.
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