Tom Dabernig in search of Magic at The Valley

Warrnambool trainer Tom Dabernig will bring It’s Kind Of Magic to Moonee Valley as the mare shoots for a third straight victory.
It’s Kind Of Magic runs in the PJA Accountants & Business Advisors Handicap (1000m) on Saturday following wins at Dunkeld and Warrnambool at her past two starts.
Dabernig has used the 4kg claim of Jordyn Weatherley to advantage in those victories, but with Weatherley unable to ride in town due to her inexperience, Damian Lane has the ride on Saturday.
Mark Zahra had ridden It’s Kind Of Magic in the mare’s first-up second at Geelong in October, but he is currently taking a break after a busy spring.
“Zahra had ridden her before, but he wasn’t able to ride her, so we thought we’d get the best available and we got Lane,” Dabernig said.
“She’s back to metro level and she did run well for us at Moonee Valley last preparation.
“She had a string of second placings last time in, then she went to Sandown and bled, so she had to have a holiday for three months.
“This time in she’s been good in that department through not doing anything different.”
A daughter of So You Think, It’s Kind Of Magic did win over 1400m as a three-year-old, but Dabernig has kept the mare to shorter trips this campaign.
Dabernig has not ruled out stepping It Kind Of Magic back up in trip at a later date but has been keeping her on the fresh side after the bleeding attack back in April.
“With the bled that she had, in the back of my mind I’ve taken the fresh approach and kept her to shorter distances,” Dabernig said.
“I haven’t hammered her with galloping between runs and that seems to be working at the moment.
“She looks amazing, she’s full of dapples and really healthy.
“I think she’ll run as well as she can again, it’s whether she can take that next step, but she’s in at a good time of year for her to possibly get another win in town.”
More Racing News
Thrilling Scone Cup success for in-form Hellsing
Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Hellsing has entered excellent shape and notched his finest victory yet in the Listed $200,000 Arrowfield Scone Cup (1600m) held at Scone on Friday.On his 10th run in a preparation exceeding six months, Hellsing is thriving more than ever, building on a Royal Randwick...
Trainer Moloney sees ongoing enhancement in Hearcomesthestar
Improvement has marked every preparation, and John Moloney, the trainer, expects additional development from Hearcomesthestar in her upcoming appearance at Flemington.From 28 races, Hearcomesthestar has notched six wins and eight places, but Stakes grade has proven challenging for her.The approaching six-year-old earned a Listed placing at Geelong earlier this year,...
Searle family from SA chasing Melbourne Cup dream with Sir Kingsford
Gary and Nichole Searle, together with their daughter Brianna Callanan, form a South Australian training outfit with ambitions for Sir Kingsford in the Melbourne Cup.A victory in Saturday's Listed Andrew Ramsden (3200m) at Flemington earns the winner a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption ahead of the big November event.Nichole Searle sampled...
Scone's Luskin Star Stakes sees Estadio Mestalla with tough weight
Trainer Joe Pride questions the two-kilo advantage given to a Group 1 winner over Estadio Mestalla in the Luskin Star Stakes, but trusts the steady gelding to deliver full commitment.At seven years old, he notched his top triumph in the prior year's Listed Winter Stakes (1100m) and must shoulder 61kg...
Barrier 18 no hindrance to Sequista's Scone return
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou believe filly Sequista has the class for black-type success despite her tendency to undermine herself.Having notched stakes placings in the 2024 Inglis Nursery (1000m) and run near the placings in Tempted's Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m), the three-year-old targets another milestone in Saturday's Listed Denise's...
Flemington awaits Concord Connie's next bold move
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield hopes her talented filly Concord Connie can replicate her recent feat before entertaining grander aspirations.In her third race appearance at Flemington on Anzac Day, Concord Connie notched a breathtaking win by six lengths in sharp time.This Saturday, the filly heads back to Flemington to compete against the...
Dark Jewel Classic in sights for Harlem Queen
While Harlem Queen didn't sustain her early promise from age three, trainer Nathan Doyle feels confident after her trouble-free lead-up that she might restore reliable results.She returns Saturday in the Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) held at Scone, where despite preferring stamina tests ahead, barrier five positions her well for Doyle's...
Flemington run to decide Different Gravy's Queensland Derby chances
At Flemington, Different Gravy will put his Queensland Derby dreams to the test in upcoming action.Following a Listed triumph over 1800m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year, trainer Henry Dwyer fixed his focus on the northern Derby.The Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm scheduled for May...
Abounding's scratch lets Napoleonic into Doomben 10,000 lineup
Confirmation has arrived that Napoleonic will join the Doomben 10,000 field, following Abounding's removal which opened the door for the colt in the elite Group 1 dash.Team members experienced a stressful seven days after the three-year-old earned second emergency status for the $1.5 million event, as reserve Beadman claimed a...
Snowden's stable loaded with top sprinters for feature clashes
Boasting a stable full of high-caliber sprinters primed for black-type action, trainer Peter Snowden enjoys the luxury of picking and choosing among several prestigious races.Just a couple of weeks earlier, Zealously claimed victory in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m), followed by King Of Roseau and Beadman grabbing interstate stakes wins...









