Henry turns on the Magic at Caymanas

HOUDINI'S MAGIC yesterday defied topweight 57.0 kilos to beat seven rivals in a tough open allowance race, a month after skipping the class to stun CAMPESINO in the grade one Eros Trophy at seven furlongs.

Partnered by Wesley Henry, who had won aboard him in the Eros Trophy, five-year-old HOUDINI'S MAGIC again made all the running for trainer Anthony Nunes in the 1500-metre event, clocking a fast 1:31.3.

His shocking 10-1 win over CAMPESINO in the July 15 Eros Trophy, carrying 51.0 kilos, failed to convince punters, who made him fourth choice in the betting at odds of 5-1.

However, HOUDINI'S MAGIC, normally a closer, has been relishing Henry's front-running riding style, making every yard of the running to beat rank outsider IAN'S LINK, who went off at 21-1.

SUPERLUMINAL, the 6-5 favourite, was eased by Omar Walker inside the final furlong and finished last in the eight-horse field after struggling to keep pace down the backstretch

PROMISING HORSE

Always a promising horse, HOUDINI'S MAGIC has been performing consistently since placing third in three major grade one races at the back end of last season - November's Invitational Mile, followed by the Diamond Mile, and the Harry Jackson Memorial in December.

Yesterday's victory has officially put the Derrick Brandt-owned dark bay gelding in grade one, where he will face stablemate BIGDADDYKOOL and the country's best runners for, at least, the remainder of the season in races such as the Gold Cup, Superstakes, and Diamond Mile.

Henry shared riding honours with Philip Parchment on the 11-race card, both riding two winners. He had earlier opened the programme aboard THORNHILL MISS at a mile.

Parchment had back-to-back winners - COMMANDING AVIATOR in the eighth and 14-1 outsider ROYAL VIBES in the ninth.

Punters were left ruing a second double-digit outsider, two-year-old DAD'S LUCK, who landed the 1000-metre round Front Runner Dash for maidens at odds of 16-1.

Racing continues at Caymanas Park on Wednesday.