Music Magnate (NZ) (Written Tycoon) has negotiated the first step on his comeback to racing after injury dashed any hope of the Group One-winning sprinter competing in the inaugural $10 million Everest.

The form guide will show that neither Linda Meech nor Ken Keys came away from Tuesday’s provincial meeting at Wangaratta a winner but their win with veteran stayer Like A Carousel in Saturday’s Pakenham Cup (2500m) will long be remembered by the pair as evidence to the contrary.

Godolphin’s Drachenfels (by Street Cry) scored a last stride victory when making a determined late challenge in the Rosehill Gardens straight to land the $100,000, 2018 ATC Membership Open Now Sprint over 1200 metres.

Dual Group 1 winner Vega Magic will be sidelined for the late summer/autumn period, with the horse on the recovering trail from a paddock mishap in late November.