Horse Profile: Magnum Force

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Scouting Report

(Editor's note: Originally published in the 2024 BRISnet Breeders' Cup International Report)

Third as the Flying Childers (G2) favorite, Magnum Force has to find a way to reverse form with Aesterius and Big Mojo. But the Ger Lyons pupil excels on fast ground, and we may not have seen the best of him yet. 

By Mehmas (like Aesterius), Magnum Force is bred to be quick. The Abdulla al Khalifa homebred is out of a daughter of Fastnet Rock and stakes-winning sprinter Tropical Treat, who won a five-furlong listed race at Ayr and missed by a neck in the 2010 Summer (G3) at York. Magnum Force was in the Goffs UK Breeze Up Sale in April, only to be withdrawn. 

The 6-5 favorite when debuting over six furlongs at a yielding Naas, Magnum Force was well back early, gradually improved position, struck the front, but got swamped late and relegated to a dead-heat second. The 33-1 winner, Diego Ventura, would be scooped up by Wathnan Racing and later placed in the Somerville Tattersall (G3) (see The Waco Kid in the Juvenile Turf).

Lyons said that Magnum Force needed that first start more than he initially realized, and the colt sharpened up plenty next time. Back in trip to five furlongs on good-to-firm at Cork, the odds-on choice drafted behind the leaders and surged clear in a :21.10 final quarter. 

Magnum Force wheeled back eight days later and arguably should have won the Roses S. at York. After breaking a beat slow, and altering course behind and among horses, he shot through a gap and missed by a neck to Tropical Storm (the Norfolk [G2] second). Back in fourth was Mr Lightside (the Molecomb [G3] third), implying that Magnum Force stacked up well with the principals from Glorious Goodwood.

Thus when he met the Molecomb top two, Big Mojo and Aesterius, in the Flying Childers, Magnum Force was dispatched as the favorite. But his late kick wasn’t so much in evidence at Doncaster. The rain-affected track likely blunted him. Magnum Force also took up a handier position early than he did at York, and he couldn’t go on when Aesterius and Big Mojo forged ahead late. Even so, Magnum Force was beaten only 1 1/2 lengths.

The firm turf at Del Mar will suit Magnum Force a lot better, if he can work out the right trip.