Melbourne, October 23 – Yarraman Park based sire Magic Albert will have his first Cox Plate runner this Saturday when the Shaune Ritchie trained New Zealander Magic Cape takes his place in Australia’s finest weight-for-age event.

Winner of the Group One NZ Two Thousand Guineas last season as a three year-old, Magic Cape has come back in good form this spring with three placings from three runs most recently when beaten a half head a and a nose when third to Princess Coup in the Group One $2million Kelt Capital Stakes.

Princess Coup confirmed the form when she finished third last Saturday to Master O’Reilly in the Group One $2.5 million MRC Caulfield Cup, so Magic Cape should be respected on that effort alone.

Making his Australian debut, Magic Cape has been given the visitors draw in barrier 13, but will have leading Victorian jockey Black Shinn in the saddle.

For trainer Shaune Ritchie there is much sentiment attached to having a Cox Plate runner of his own having strapped the mighty Bonecrusher for his dad Frank Ritchie, when he scored that memorable victory over Our Waverley Star in 1986.