Big plans for He Or She
Alan and Birgitt Macalister are biding their time with oddly-named galloper He Or She.
But the four-year-old can edge a step closer to realising a long-term goal of running in next year's Railway Stakes when he steps up to 1500m in today's Konica Minolta Handicap at Ascot.
Last Saturday, the Macalisters celebrated one of their biggest days in the sport when $80,000 buy Magnifisio outshone a formidable interstate brigade in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.
The Macalisters were members of the Royal Ascot Club syndicate which raced 2005 English Derby winner Motivator.
Magnifisio was one of their most expensive buys but the Rangeview Stud-bred yearling has returned $1.19 million.
"(Trainer) Jimmy (Taylor) told us to run her as a two-year-old but that we would not see her at her best until she was a late three-year-old or four-year-old," Alan Macalister said.
"We found that when she led she was more vulnerable, so we changed the game plan.
"She had a high cruising speed and a good turn of foot."
While the Macalisters basked in the sunshine, trainer Vaughn Sigley pondered what might have been after Black Heart Bart's win in the Carbine Club Stakes last week.
Sigley's plans to have the son of Blackfriars qualify for the Railway Stakes were scuttled when he ran fourth in the Peters Stakes the previous week.
The Sigley-trained Rohan had missed a start in the 2013 Railway.
Sigley paid $5000 for He Or She's dam, Danessa, in Melbourne but she was unplaced at her five starts on WA provincial tracks. Sigley races He Or She in partnership with the Macalisters.
They rejected a $300,000 offer from Hong Kong for the gelding last autumn after imposing wins at Bunbury and Ascot.
The former jockey trains the biggest slice of the Macalisters' team of gallopers and has 20 horses in work.
In a gripping finish, He Or She just beat Very Special when racing second-up over 1400m a fortnight ago.
Very Special is the $2.60 favourite in the Minolta Print Handicap (1500m).
The TAB posted He Or She at $2, with Chorus Boy ($8) the only other runner in the field of 16 under double-figure odds.
He Or She, a son of Kendel Star, has raced five times for three wins and a third. His sole placing was as a $2.30 favourite when he ran third to Testamezzo at his third start in the Raconteur Stakes last preparation.
With Chris Parnham replacing Shaun Meeres today, He Or She is up 0.5kg on his last win to 58kg.
"Belmont, with its longer straight and sweeping turn, probably suits him better," Macalister said.
"We think he will be a genuine miler. We will work him through his grades and hopefully end up in next year's Railway."
He Or She gained his name when he was mistakenly identified as a filly as a youngster.
Macalister warned punters not to dismiss his other runner, My Destination, in the same race.
"We will work him through his grades and hopefully end up in next year's Railway.""He Or She's part-owner *Alan Macalister *
