New Zealand, November 18 – Our promising sire Magic Albert passed a major milestone in New Zealand on Saturday when his three-year old son Magic Cape wrested victory from glamour colt Jokers Wild in the Group One CJC NZ Two Thousand Guineas over 1600 metres at Riccarton.
Having just his fifth race start, the Shaune Ritchie trained Magic Cape settled at the rear of the field before making a sustained run down the outside of the track, surging past Jokers Wild in rain affected conditions to win by a neck.
The leggy chestnut now has three wins and a placing on his resume with earnings in excess of $200,000.
A $50,000 purchase from the draft of Windsor Park Stud at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale last year, Magic Cape is the first living foal of the Kaapstad mare Cape City, a half-sister to Group One placed Quite Astute from the family of champion NZ filly Rosie’s Girl.
Magic Albert also featured at Rosehill with his first starter Lieserl overcoming difficulty to win the open two-year old event by the best part of two lengths.
Prepared by Gai Waterhouse, the striking chestnut filly was slow out and then badly hampered forcing her back to the tail of the field. From there she made ground along the fence before kicking clear in the straight to score a highly impressive win.
“It was very exciting. She’s a bombproof filly despite what happened at the start today,” said Waterhouse.
“She was bought at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale so will have a short break and come back for the Inglis Classic race in the New Year.”
Lieserl was purchased by John Freyer Bloodstock on behalf of the Cloros family for $57,500 at the 2006 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Offered by Goodwood Farm as agent she is the first foal of good metropolitan winner Sri Lanka, a half-sister by Sri Pekan (USA) to juvenile stakes-winner Key Issue from the Marscay mare Momentaire, winner of the Listed AJC Widden Stakes.
With all that fast juvenile blood on her mother’s side it’s no wonder to see Lieserl out and winning before Christmas.
Magic Albert is covering a full book of mares at Yarraman Park this spring at a fee of $11,000
