KEY POINTS:
Leading jockey Opie Bosson will ride Magic Cape in the $700,000 Mercedes Derby at Ellerslie on Saturday week.
The shock rider change was confirmed last night by Magic Cape's trainer Shaune Ritchie.
The stable's former apprentice, Patrick Holmes, had ridden Magic Cape to victory in the $300,000 group one 2000 Guineas at Riccarton and the Wellington Stakes before finishing fourth on the 3-year-old in Saturday's $100,000 Mercedes Championship Stakes at Ellerslie.
In recognition of his contribution to the horse, Holmes has been offered a full jockey's winning percentage - $20,000 if Magic Cape wins the Derby.
Ritchie went to great lengths to explain that he and the ownership syndicate members were not replacing Holmes because Magic Cape was the beaten favourite on Saturday.
"We're not blaming Patrick at all. As a back runner, they were a victim of circumstances.
"But we feel we need an experienced group one rider, which may make the difference between winning the Derby and not winning.
"It's purely a business decision."
Ritchie pointed out to Holmes last night that there were precedents.
"Andrew Calder had ridden St Reims all the way through leading up to the Derby and was replaced for the big race by Leith Innes and they won.
"This move is certainly no blight on Patrick's talents - we feel he has the ability to win a Derby, but we also feel we need an experienced group one rider for whatever scenario the Derby might present."
The rail was out 8.5 metres at Ellerslie on Saturday and once it displayed the bias against back runners as it almost always does when the rail is a long way out, Magic Cape, always best when allowed to settle back, was going to be vulnerable, particularly if the pace slowed at any stage of the race.
The leaders crawled from the 1400m to the 700m and Holmes, knowing he couldn't hope to outsprint the field in the closing 400m from near last, showed initiative by making a move around wide to end up mid-field.
Like any other runner out near the middle of the track, Magic Cape lost a length or two on the leaders as the field fanned around the home turn and, faced with a tough task, he finished off resolutely to be 3.6 lengths from the winner, Australian colt Redoute's Dancer, who had enjoyed a lovely trip three places back along the rail and did not have to go around a horse until he straightened up at the 420m.
Holmes felt it was a top effort.
"He can still win the Derby.
"He was travelling up a bit keener than usual, which shows how slow they were going in the middle stages."
Magic Cape had not previously raced past 1600m before Saturday's 2100m and his effort suggested he is going to be well suited to the 2400m Derby distance.
Ritchie said Magic Cape has come through the race well.
"He didn't even blow afterwards, which shows how fit he is and he licked up his feed last night.
"He's exactly where I want him and I don't have to do much with him between now and the Derby."
Countdown to Derby
* An experienced group one rider could make all the difference in the Derby
* Redoute's Dancer is favourite after his Championship Stakes win
* Magic Cape's effort showed he should suit the 2400m of the Derby
