Magical day for recuperating Fairbairn

By Jonny Turner

Owner-trainer-breeder Kevin Fairbairn enjoyed a magical day on the couch watching his breed succeed at Addington on Sunday.

Wins by Magical Matty and Magical Mali gave Fairbairn a breeding double, with the latter also notching a victory as a trainer and owner for the Doyleston horseman.

The successful Sunday gave Fairbairn a timely boost as he recovers from hip surgery.

“When you get your hip done it’s not the best thing in the world, but it is getting better,” Fairbairn said.

“It’s not a bad effort with both of those horses winning because I only breed 3 or 4 every year.”

Magical Mali had shown Fairbairn she was a capable horse leading in to Sunday’s event, but her form did not reflect that.

The five-year-old, who was drive to victory by John Dunn, had gone some good races in her six prior starts, but had left her best performances on the workout track.

“She had gone good at the workouts – she ran home in 56sec [800m] at Ashburton the other week,” Fairbairn said.

“But she had been missing away.”

“Once Johnny stepped her that was it.”

“I always thought she would win one as a three-year-old, but she sprained an ankle and little niggling things kept going wrong.”

“This is about the first time she has been really healthy.”

Magical Mali made full use of the sweet trip Dunn gave her in the trail to dash along the passing lane to win race 9.

Magical Matty delivered the first of Fairbairn’s wins as a breeder with a stayer’s effort over 1980m to win race 4.

The Jason and Amber Lethaby looked a little flat coming off the back straight, but kept giving and wound up with a strong finish to score his third career win.

Fairbairn and then wife, Pauline, sold the Shadow Play eight-year-old to clients of the Lethaby stable at the national yearling sales.

Magical Moni (Shadow Play – Ally Grace) and Magical Matty (Shadow Play – Magical Minnie) are not just by the same sire.

The pair are from half-sisters out of Fairburn’s grand producing Camtastic mare, Magical Monie.

She is the dam of 34 race winner and million dollar earner, Magical Mach, who raced as Mysta Magical Mach in Western Australia.

Fairburn is still breeding from Ally Grace and she is due to have a Downtotheseaside foal in the spring.

The Mach Three mare has also left a two-year-old full sister to Magical Mali and a yearling filly by Vincent.