When you train more than 170 winners in 2024, it would be impossible not to deem the year a resounding success, and it was just that for Jason Magri, but he also knows he fell just short in a couple of feature events that could have made the year remarkable.
Magri’s Zipping Megatron was second in both the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg and the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase, and coming close in those events has made him realise that when you do claim a feature, you should “appreciate it.”
That appreciation was evident from the big smile on Thursday afternoon after Magri collected an early feature race win at Richmond when Canya Untamed took out the $25,000 Straight Track Cup.
“We fell short last year in a couple of races, but you’re still running second in the biggest races in NSW,” he said.
“So when you’re winning, you have to take them in your stride but you have to also appreciate it.”
Canya Untamed maintained his phenomenal record at the Richmond venue, jumping to the lead and being unchallenged in winning for the 10th time in as many outings. He clocked 17.27s and had two lengths to spare over runner-up Sheezel, with Typhon Nev a further ½ length away in third.
"He's a very good straight dog. He can get a bit carried away in the kennels, but when he gets the start right up the straight, he can run time,” Magri said.
"He is good off the mat, that’s where he puts two or three (lengths) on them straight away and they then have to try to reel him in.”
Magri trained Canya Untamed at the beginning of his career, but when the dog was sold last year, the new connections moved the dog to Victorian trainer Jess Hopkins. A chance meeting late last year saw the dog return to Sydney and Magri for this successful campaign.
“I ran into Jess when I was in Melbourne in November and she asked me if I would take him back up for this race and then she sent him up to me. He will go back home to Jess now.”
