LAST week in the Magic Millions marquees at Ballarat, three young Englishmen had a drink and compared notes on how they had all ended up training in Victoria.
Archie Alexander, Matt Cumani and Brian McGrath agreed it was the prizemoney and greater opportunities in Australia.
“We’re calling it the attack of the Poms, but it demonstrates the health of the industry in Australia,” McGrath said.
McGrath will have just his third runner, and first in the city, when he saddles up two-year-old filly Magnanimously in the first race at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
He said he had only to look at the $80,000 on offer for the race, plus the $50,000 in Super Vobis and Vobis Gold bonuses on offer, to know why they are all here.
“We’re all attracted to Australian racing with its excitement. Also economically it’s much better, although I do love English racing as well,” McGrath said.
McGrath training at Cranbourne is something of a homecoming as he hails from a famous Victorian racing family. Grandfather Brian was a leading rails bookmaker in Melbourne in the 1960s and 1970s and his father Jim is renowned worldwide as an English-based racecaller and journalist. Uncle Joe works for the VRC and is an integral part of the Melbourne Cup tour.
McGrath intended to follow in his dad’s footsteps and worked on the racing desk at The Sun newspaper in London.
“I just felt so far away from the horse,’’ he said. “I was getting on the Tube each day in my suit and then sitting at my desk. I wanted to be more hands on and just really had an urge to train.”
McGrath first worked in John Hammond’s stables in France, followed by stints with the late Michael Jarvis and Roger Varian at Newmarket, before he won a place on the Darley Flying Start program that included working at the Irish National Stud.
He then headed to Australia and worked for Robert Smerdon and Chris Waller before branching out on his own 3½ months ago.
Magnanimously, a $60,000 buy as a yearling, is raced by a syndicate put together by McGrath’s father that includes former North Melbourne star Sam Kekovich.
But the filly will race in Richmond colours.
McGrath, a North supporter like his dad, said VRC treasurer John O’Rourke, who recently joined the Richmond board, and his brother Steven were also in the horse.
McGrath, who has 10 horses in work, said Magnanimously had won a recent Cranbourne jum-pout. She has been $51 into $31 to win on Saturday.
