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A change in gear and distance proved to be the key factors behind Magnum Force’s maiden win at his sixth start in the $75,000 Infantry 2017 Stakes, a Restricted Maiden race over 1600m on Saturday.

A work in progress for the Michael Clements team since his racing debut in January, the US-bred three-year-old by Jimmy Creed did give a peek of some potential at a few runs, especially at his second place to Toosbies in a Restricted Maiden race over 1200m back in February. 

But that raw ability had been a challenge to tutor and channel in the right direction, until Clements decided to throw in a set of blinkers and it was time to step the Thai Falcon Racing No 7 Stable-owned chestnut up to the mile.

The dawdling pace probably helped too. Shortly after the start, Magnum Force  found himself sitting outside leader Scooby Dooby Doo (Glen Boss) without having to be heeled along by jockey Daniel Moor. 

As the handbrakes came up, Magnum Force started to overrace a touch, but Moor, who has ridden him at four of his previous five starts has a few fair ideas how to rein in a bit of that feistiness. 

Turning for home, most were probably expecting the 38-1 shot to bow out of the race, but he surprisingly kept on as he collared the weakening Scooby Dooby Doo. 

However, that ungainly action of his was again in the way, but ridden hands and heels by Moor, he was able to somehow hold it together all the way to the line, falling in by one length from favourite St Alwyn (John Powell). 

Clements’ second runner El Primero (Shafrizal Saleh) came from the clouds to snatch third prize another three parts of a length away. The winning time was 1min 36.48secs for the 1600m on the Short Course. 

“He’s still a young horse, and we always knew he had ability,” said Clements. 

“We also always knew he needed distance and blinkers as well. It all came together today.” 

Moor was not only glad he had found the way home on a horse that had been hard work to get through, but also for his own cause. The Australian jockey has been spending a bit of time on the sidelines through careless riding suspensions of late this season. 

“It’s again been a little frustrating with suspensions, but I’ve just kept my head down and my bum up,” said Moor. 

“Hopefully, I can knock down as many winners as I can till the end of the season.

“This horse has always been a little tricky. Either he travels well or he flops out the back and shows no interest. 

“Today, he was up there with the pace, but that was because nobody wanted to lead. He found himself running outside the leader. 

“When he hit the lead, he was not putting in again. I kept the stick where it was and he was able to get there. 

“Mike and I always had an opinion of him. He has a good amount of raw ability but now that he’s won one race, I would suggest a break, but I’m just the jockey, not the trainer.” 

Magnum Force, who was a name of another handy horse raced by the same connections but trained by Laurie Laxon in the early 2000’s, has now brought in close to $60,000 in stakes earnings.