Grief, joy, heartbreak – just part of winner’s emotional day

GRIEF, joy, heartbreak…they are just part of the emotions David Magri endured yesterday.

To say the astute horseman underwent a rollercoaster ride just simply doesn’t cover do justice to what Magri experienced.

Magri’s morning began with grief as the day marked the first anniversary since his wife, Kieley, passed away suddenly.

Understandably, Magri “felt like an empty shell” as he trudged through his daily routine before preparing to drive at Melton Entertainment Park during the evening.

DAVID and KIELEY MAGRI

“I knew the day was coming, but that didn’t make it any easier,” Magri said. “I mopped around the house doing what I needed to do, but my insides felt like an empty shell.

“Although I do drive the filly which was in at Melton, one of the reasons I was willing to go was to try and get my mind elsewhere.”

Taking the reins behind the moderately-performed Aruval, Magri’s mood switched to bitter-sweet joy as the daughter of Ultimate Machete caused an upset.

After travelling three-back along the pegs from her second row draw, Aruval received a perfect passage along the inside to score by a half-head.

In what can only be described as divine intervention, Magri registered his first win since scoring with Bacardi Chic in December 2023.

“I knew I’d won, but it wasn’t until I pulled up at the back straight that it hit me,” Magri said. “I’m not too proud to admit, I had a tear in my eye.

“I was the person in the sulky, but I didn’t win the race, I know in my heart I had help steering the horse.”

Trained by Pene and Nichola Kirk, the three-year-old rated 1:57.6 over 1720 metres.

“Pene and Nichola have put in so much effort with her, they deserve this win and any other win she gets,” Magri said. “I’ve been driving her all along, but on this particular occasion, I cannot thank Pene and Nichola enough.”

Upon his return home, Magri’s joy turned somber to the point of heartbreak – his winning welcome was missing.

“I’ll be honest, it almost broke me,” Magri said. “I didn’t have my best friend waiting at home to celebrate my win as she always did.

“Kieley was the first person I wanted to turn to after a win and not having her waiting at the door with her beautiful smile sent me crashing as I turned the key.

“Like I said, I know she knows I won because she helped me, but it’s just not the same.”