Widely travelled squaregaiter Melpark Magic continues to be a force in Queensland trotting ranks despite being in the twilight of his career.
The eight-year-old gelding overcame a 50m handicap and a torrid passage to register his 13th lifetime success at Albion Park on Tuesday afternoon.
The win lifted his stake tally to $119,956.
“He’s a foolproof trotter whose done a great job without having a lot of ability,” trainer John Cremin said.
“He’s always competitive when things go his way.”
Bred by Cranbourne identity David Scott, Melpark Magic was bought by Don Smith (of Melpark Maid fame) at the Australasian Premier Trotting Sale in 2015 for $32,000 – the third highest priced lot at the sale.
He was later trained by Daylesford horseman Glenn Conroy, who won a restricted race at Melton with him before being sold to the South Brisbane-based Cremin as a five-year-old.
Cremin has now won 12 races at Albion Park with Melpark Magic, including the 2020 March Trotters Cup.
Melpark Magic is every inch the blood he represents. A product of the champion American sire Muscles Yankee, he is out of the CR Commando mare Elusive Charm, who numbered The Redwood and a Vicbred Super Series heat among her 10 successes.
At the stud, Elusive Charm has a 100 per cent record, being the dam also of Vicbred trotting champion Is That A Bid and the promising Theyallendiny and Locksley Lover.
Melpark Magic is one of four APTS graduates to win on metropolitan tracks recently. Rules Dont Apply took a heat of the Great Southern Star at Melton, Agent Maori emerged successful at Menangle, while Tam OShanter completed his sixth consecutive win at Albion Park.
* picture courtesy Dan Costello Photography