Winner: Albert the Fat (Magic Albert-Alemar)
Race: BRC BTC Cup G1 (1200m)
Sold for: $40,000
Sale: 2006 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale
Vendor: Rheinwood Pastoral (As Agent)
Buyer: Wadham Park
Earnings: $544,525
Owner(s): J Stumer, A Scaroni, D Scaroni, M Stumer, M Virgo, J White, P Schimke, BM Wood & The Fat Albert Synd
Trainer: Eden Petire (Canungra)
Albert the Fat gave young trainer Eden Petrie his first Group One victory when he scored a thrilling win in the Group One BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben today.
Leading home a trifecta result for Magic Millions graduates, Albert the Fat edged out proven Group One winner Melito by a nose.
Last start stakes winner Latin News finished third, another long neck back. The favourite Ortensia got well back and wound up fifth.
For Canungra trainer Eden Petrie the win was his biggest and gave him a feeling he described as “unbelievable.”
“I just can’t describe it,” Petrie said as he fought back tears.
Albert Fat was racing for the second time this preparation. Last time out he ran a closing third in the Group Two Victory Stakes behind Ghetto Blaster.
He stripped much fitter for the run and Petrie gave him a great chance of winning.
“I did (give him a good chance),” Petrie reported. “I know you have to keep your feet planted.”
“But I knew the horse was spot on and whatever he did after today I thought there was still improvement in him.”
Connections have put his last placing in the Magic Millions Sprint in January well behind them.
“He had a little niggly injury after that,” Petrie recalled. “We thought there was no use pressing on.”
“He wrenched his joint. Thankfully the x-rays were all clear.
“We thought we’d pull up shop and set him for the winter.”
“This has been pretty much the plan since two weeks after the Magic Millions (Sprint).
“We had the winter in mind and I’ve only got one Albert.”
The win was made that much easier after a copybook ride from seasoned Sunshine Coast based jockey Damian Browne.
Browne said everything during the race went according to plan.
“It’s a great way to start off the carnival,” Brown said. “He travelled beautiful throughout and gave me a lovely feeling.”
“As we straightened up I gave him a squeeze and he really quickened nice.”
“Eden’s done a great job with the horse to get him ready for today.”
Albert the Fat has raced on just 20 occasions and notched ten wins and four minor placings and earned an ever increasing $544,525.
The quality five-year-old gelding was purchased for just $40,000 as a yearling from the draft of Rheinwood Pastoral at the 2006 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The first Australian Group One winner for Magic Albert, himself a star graduate of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Albert the Fat is the only winner to date for his dam Alemar.
A twice winning daughter of Bureaucracy, Alemar is a full sister to the 11 time winner and stakes performed Sydney galloper Mastery.
The result of the BTC Cup was a great advertisement for buying from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The runner up Melito ($600,000) and the third placegetter Latin News ($180,000) were also purchased from the same sale.
PICS – Dan Costello.
