Yarraman Stud sire Magic Albert grabbed his first Group 1 when Albert The Fat scored a thrilling victory in the BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.  The gelding led home a Magic Millions trifecta from Melito and Latin News.

Albert The Fat (5g Magic Albert – Alemar by Bureaucracy) was a $40,000 buy from the draft of Rheinwood Pastoral at the 2006 Gold Coast Magic Millions.  He has notched 10 wins from 20 starts and has earned $544,525.

Magic Albert (Zeditave) has sired 18 stakes performers among his 143 winners to date.  His oldest are 6YOs and he has a very healthy strike-rate of 57%.  

Albert The Fat started at $21 despite coming off a first-up third in the G2 Victory Stakes won by Ghetto Blaster.  He stripped much fitter for the run and trainer Eden Petrie gave him a great chance of winning.  “I knew the horse was spot on,” the rookie Canungra horseman said.  “And I thought there was still improvement in him.”

Albert the Fat is the only winner to date for his dam Alemar who won twice at Gosford in 2001.  The mare is a full sister to Sydney sprinter-mile Mastery and she has a foaled colts by Magic Albert in 2008 and 09.

Albert the Fat was reserved for the winter carnival after wrenching a joint in the Magic Millions Sprint in January.  “The x-rays were all clear but there was no use pressing on,” Petrie recalled.  “Setting him for the winter has been pretty much the plan since the Magic Millions.”

Magic Albert stands for $13,750 (inc. gst) at Yarraman alongside G1 Chilean winner Trotamondo (Hussonet) and G2 winning newcomer I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit).