Houdini’s Magic (Performing Magic – Milestone) conjured the run of his life when the six-year-old dark bay horse put it across Grade One rivals at a daunting 24-1 in the nine-furlong (1,800m) The Viceroy Trophy at Caymanas Park on Saturday.

The top three rated horses in the land — She’s A Maneater, Will In Charge and Bigdaddykool — were expected to fight for supremacy in the $1.3-million three-year-old and upward event, but the Anthony Nunes-trained Houdini’s Magic shocked the big guns with a bold front-running display that got him over the line by two-and-a-three-quarters lengths.

Jockey Wesley “Callaloo” Henry rode a masterful, tactical race aboard Houdini’s Magic from the gates opened as he moved his mount to the front after a very brief attempt at leading by Bigdaddykool (Linton Steadman) and Will In Charge (Robert Halledeen).

Henry continued to move his mount running down the backstretch as Will In Charge kept the pressure on passing the six-furlong (1,200m) point, with Marvellous Marva (Delroy Beharie) and Dontae (Dick Cardenas) overtaking Bigdaddykool. Horse of the Year She’s A Maneater was in last position in the six-horse field after pitching at the start.

Houdini’s Magic kept up the tempo at the half mile (800m) and started to extend his lead over rivals who were seemingly grouping up for their challenges. but once the field turned for home, Henry let Houdini’s Magic loose and it became clear that magic was indeed in the air on Derby Day. Houdini’s Magic won in style without any real threat.

Dontae came through for second place with Bigdaddykool getting third, making it a one-two-three for Nunes. The winning time was a good 1:50.4, with splits of 23.2, 46.0, 1:10.3 and 1:35.4.

“Oh, great performance and a great ride, which all came together to aid the win by Houdini’s Magic. I mean, we spoke about it before, that we are going to take the light weight and told Wesley [Henry] to put him ( Houdini’s Magic) in front and see what happens from there.

“ Houdini’s Magic just got braver and braver in front and obviously being light and with the heavy horses behind him, he took them home in the end. He is a decent horse; this is his second Grade One win,” Nunes informed with obvious delight.

Commenting on his other runners, Nunes said: “I am very happy with Dontae. I have high hopes in him that he going to be a nice horse later done in the year. He has some issues that we battled with, but he is all heart, that I can tell you, as Dontae gives you 110 per cent every time he races. I am a little disappointed with Bigdaddykool, but he is clearly showing to me that he is a two-turn horse. He was in a great spot, but then they quickened from the half mile, he got left behind, and in the straight he was trying to come at them again. He is a two-turn horse and the races later on in the year will suit him better than coming out of the nine-furlong chute.”