A liking for the Sandown track has seen the Pencarrow-bred Correggio (Excellent Art x Magical Moment) record back-to-back wins in the $100,000 Schweppes Handicap (1800m) on Saturday.

The son of Excellent Art prevailed mid-week at Sandown on 9 April and was stepping up in grade to Saturday class for trainer Murray Johnson.

Jockey Steven King was aboard the four-year-old gelding for the first time and allowed him to drop back to the rear of the field with only one runner behind him, race-favourite Trade Commissioner (Montjeu).

Correggio was travelling strongly as the field entered the long straight and strode to the lead with 200m to go. Trade Commissioner tried to slingshot Correggio but the Karaka Select Sale graduate proved too strong, going past the winning post one length clear of the race-favourite.

It was Johnson’s first metropolitan win since returning from the USA last year. Correggio also provided Johnson with his first winner when he was victorious for the stable at Seymour last July.

“He travelled beautifully today and he seems to like Sandown a lot,” said Johnson.

“I’m not sure what we’ll do with him now but we might aim him towards a nice country Cup somewhere. He can go to 2000m now no worries at all.”

Formerly trained by Peter Moody, Correggio has won five races from 18 starts and has earned A$157,435 for his owners Mr M A Ramsden, Mr N J Kenyon, Mr C J Deighton, Mr J C H Clark & Mr S R Bickford.

Bred by Sir Peter and Philip Vela, Correggio is out of unraced Sadler’s Wells mare Magical Moment, who is already the dam of Group 2 Rich Hill Mile winner Fears Nothing (Faltaat).

Magical Moment is a daughter of Group 2 winner Interval (Habitat) and is a sister to Group 3 winner Short Pause (Sadler’s Wells). Magical Moment was served in 2013 by last season’s leading sire in Australia, Exceed and Excel.

Tom Magnier and BBA Ireland purchased Correggio for $250,000 at the 2011 Karaka Select Sale from Pencarrow Stud, the second-highest price paid at auction in the Southern Hemisphere for a yearling by Excellent Art.

The win by Correggio came 24 hours after another Pencarrow graduate Rhythm to Spare (Pins x Stanica) won at Flemington on Anzac Day for Mike Moroney.