Racing: Cape seeking a magic start

There are two factors you can read nothing into around Magic Cape in tomorrow's $50,000 Bonecrusher Stakes.

The first is that his winning Ruakaka rider Michael Walker is aboard Star Of Nero this time.

Magic Cape's rider for tomorrow, Patrick Holmes, was suspended for the Ruakaka meeting.

The second is that his two winning runs have been on much easier footing than the firm surface he will face at Ellerslie tomorrow afternoon.

Not only could the footing not have been heavier when he won on debut at Ellerslie, he won by 6.5 lengths in the manner of a horse that relished the conditions.

Although in wonderful order, the ground at Ruakaka was officially dead.

"I'm sure he's not a mudder," says trainer Shaune Ritchie, "and I guess this race will tell.

"I know it's easy to write him off as a mudder, but he clocked 1.11.5 for the 1200m at Ruakaka and if he hadn't have walked out of the barriers that day he'd have shaved a second off that time."

Magic Cape has been very slow away in both of his starts, something that if he continues doing will become increasingly difficult for him as he progressively steps up in class.

"I think he'll stay and if he does, once he gets over a middle distance I think the fact that he can relax at the back of the field will be an advantage."

Ritchie describes Magic Cape as so lazy and laid back that he rates as bone idle.

The Cambridge trainer says he has been unable to get much of a guide on the 3-year-old's progress since Ruakaka.

"Because he had such a hard race to win up there I haven't actually done much with him.

"I can understand why Michael Walker rode him the way he did after the slow start, but it meant he had no time to relax during the race.

"Because of that I've been a bit easy on him since and, anyway, he's always a lazy bugger in trackwork. He's such a clown."

Similarly unbeaten Keepem made a huge impression, winning on debut at Ruakaka the same day Magic Cape won and rates as the danger, although Ritchie believes Magic Cape's biggest chance to get beaten is by his own greenness.

Co-trainer Dean Logan cannot come up with too many negatives around Keepem for the Bonecrusher.

"He's a very professional horse for one that's had only one start.

"He was a bit slow away at Ruakaka, but when Grant asked him to go he just picked it up nicely."

Generally only pretty talented horses go on and win their second start to remain unbeaten.

It takes a very good one to do it in Listed Stakes company, but Logan is unconcerned.

"His work since that win has been terrific and his gallop on Tuesday is one of the best I've seen here for a while."

Grant Cooksley will again ride Keepem.

Fingers Crossed looked an early improver when he resumed at Ruakaka, sitting back and wide and running on late to be only two lengths off Magic Cape.

Given it was his first start for six months he can be expected to be much fitter this time.

Last-start winner Keep The Passion is engaged here and in the Soliloquy Stakes and trainer Lance O'Sullivan has decided to run in the latter with apprentice Chad Ormsby.

You didn't get a chance to ask O'Sullivan how Keep The Passion had done since winning fresh at Taupo.

"She's working shocking - couldn't work any worse."

But that is not unusual - Keep The Passion has always kept O'Sullivan guessing by showing absolutely no interest in producing a training track performance.

"I rode her myself this morning and it felt terrible. On that work you would say she'd finish 50 metres last.

"She's never looked like finishing alongside another horse in training."

So raceday efforts are the guide and Keep The Passion looked good swamping Imananabaa at Taupo.

The difference this time though is that there are no apprentice allowances in the Soliloquy.

Keep The Passion received 2.5kg off Imananabaa last start and this time they meet on level terms. Only a head separated them at Taupo.

The Soliloquy field is packed with emerging horses and should prove to be a very good form guide for the future.