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By Grahame Timbrell

Brett Cavanough has always believed that Avroson would get better as he stepped the five-year-old up in distance and at Muswellbrook on Tuesday the theory will be put to the test, for the second time, in the TAB.COM.AU Hunter River Cup (2300m).

“We have always thought he would get better the further he went,” Cavanough said.

“I think he is one of those horses that once he breaks through will string together a succession of wins.

“Early one we thought he might have been a cups horse but I don’t think he is going to reach those heights.

“A heavy track will not worry him.”

Avroson is the winner of three races from 1400 metres to 2000 metres but was placed at 2400 metres on a heavy track during the Albury carnival last year.

South African born jockey Keagan Latham, who has arrived in Australia via Ireland, will ride the horse for the first time.

Latham has captured the attention of a number of leading trainers and has five rides at this meeting, three for Cavanough and one each for Paul Perry and James Cummings.

“I have been watching Keagan for a while and I like his style,” Cavanough said.

“He is very strong and very tidy.”

The interesting runner in the Stayers cup is the Gerald Ryan trained Magentaz, to be ridden by Greg Ryan.

The trainer nominated the horse for both Newcastle last Saturday and Muswellbrook and elected to go to the country meeting.

Ryan believes the Muswellbrook race is more suitable for the four-year-old at this stage of his preparation on the strength of his last start second behind Rokda Kasba over 2600 metres at Gosford earlier this month.

“In one more bound he would have won,” Ryan said.

“It was a very good run as was his second the start before at Cessnock when Greg rode him.

“I have only had him for this preparation and because he is bred to get over ground it has taken a little while for him to find form.

“He is a four-year-old getting stronger as he matures but we are not getting carried away by him yet.

“He has a long way to go to recoup his purchase price but a win on Tuesday would go some way to lifting his confidence.”

Magentaz is by Redoute’s Choice from the Zabeel mare Zapurple, which won the Group Three South Australian Fillies Classic (2500m) in 2009.

He was bought for $80,000 by Dynamic Syndications at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale and trained originally by David Brideoake to win a Geelong maiden over 2200 metres last year before being switched to Ryan.

View the fields and form (including race replays) for Muswellbrook's Tuesday meeting here.

SELECTIONS 1-12:55, XXXX GOLD 3YO MAIDEN, 1000m: MUSICAL QUERY 1, Secret Pedrille 2, Miss Fisher 3, Avalanche Warning 4. 2-1.35, HORSEPOWER MAIDEN, 1280m: HORSEY MCHORSEFACE 1, Sports Tycoon 2, What A Sister 3, Snippet Asured 4. 3-2.10, @THEBROOKRACING ON TWITTER CLASS TWO, 1450m: DE KURNELL 1, Foxteller 2, Aerojet 3, Hussonplaza 4. 4-2.45, TAB.COM.AU HUNTER RIVER STAYERS CUP, 2300m: MAGENTAZ 1, Avroson 2, Packen 3, Southern Delight 4. 5-3.20, MAGIC MILLIONS NATIONAL SALE CLASS ONE, 1000m: MOONLIGHT WALTZ 1, Bon Amis 2, Remittance 3, Meteora 4. 6-3.55, MT ARTHUR COAL BENCHMARK 55, 1500m: MILK ‘N’ BRANDY 1, Malibu Stacey 2, Ladies Who Lunch 3, Sculptures 4. 7-4.35, BENGALLA MINING BENCHMARK 55, 1280m: MANICC 1, Barricade 2, Still Undaunted 3, Sophia’s Charm 4. Best Bets: Magentaz, Moonlight Waltz.