Maggie On Verge Of Stunning Sapphire Success

GIPPSLAND sprinter Madalia Maggie is on the verge of group 1 glory from relative obscurity in Thursday's Sapphire Crown Final at Sandown Park.

EXCITING Gippsland sprinter Madalia Maggie is on the verge of group 1 glory from relative obscurity in Thursday night's Sapphire Crown Final (515m) at Sandown Park.

And if successful in the $50,000 to-the-winner feature, the rising three-year-old will deliver 75-year old Rosedale trainer John Connor group 1 acclaim at his first time of trying.

"I've been training since the mid 1970's and this is my first ever group 1 final," declared Connor.

"I've trained a winner in each of the past five decades would you believe. The biggest race I've been in before Thursday night was the Sale Cup back in 2000 with Bach's Maestro. He was beaten a head by Vino Veritas … it was worth $15,000 back in those days."

Madalia Maggie's ascension to the top of the female sprinting ranks has been a spectacular one for Connor, only assuming the bitch's training responsibilities last November from owner Peter McKenzie.

"I've known Peter for the best part of 25 years," Connor said.

"Peter was moving property late last year and asked me if I wanted to take Madalia Maggie to train. To be honest I'd never even heard of her but I had a friend with me at the time who told me to give her a go. I'm glad I listened; I've got ten of Peter's dogs here now!"

Madalia Maggie, a daughter of Banjo Boy and Zipping Scarlet, has drawn box two for Thursday night's group 1 finale, the same draw she negotiated with aplomb for last week's dazzling 29.41 heat success.

"She definitely surprised me – it was a strong race," confessed Connor.

"And it was only a last minute decision to put her in the series. She won the last race at Sandown a few weeks back in 29.77 and then was only just beaten the next week. She was going well so I thought she'd earned her chance."

Standing in between Connor and a stunning group 1 breakthrough is a star-studded field, led by Jason Thompson's four-time group 1 runner-up Black Opium – the daughter of Black Magic Opal qualifying fastest with a rampaging 29.20 victory.

"Without sounding nasty we'll need Black Opium to run into some trouble I'd think … she's going to be very hard to beat," Connor added.

"I'm more hopeful than confident and to be honest. There's some big name trainers in the race with some very fast dogs. When you get to my age and you've been doing it for as long as I have it's just another race in a lot of ways.

"She's had a very good week; I worked her on Monday morning and she's as bright as a button. If she can repeat what she did last week she'll give herself a chance."

And while looking forward to racing on the big stage at Sandown Park this Thursday night, Connor admits that going to the races these days is a little different, only recently laying to rest his wife of 55 years Theresa.

"She passed away seven weeks ago now," Connor said.

"We were together since I was 19 and married for 55 years. We started in the greyhounds when we were living in Dingley before ending up on the 10 acres here at Rosedale. We probably bred 15 litters over the years and she loved the dogs too.

"I'm sure she'll be there with me on Thursday night."

 

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