New Zealand, January 9 – Group One New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas winner Magic Cape (NZ) (Magic Albert x Cape City by Kaapstad) will resume racing in the Group Three $80,000 Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on January 20.
This was confirmed by Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie at the weekend.
Ritchie said Magic Cape (NZ), who has won three of his five outings to date, was thriving in his work but will be much improved by his race at Trentham.
"He had two weeks off after the 2000 Guineas in November and is looking great but he’s going to need this first-up race to get him fit again. His main target is going to be the New Zealand Derby in the autumn," said Ritchie.
A $1 million offer for Magic Cape (NZ) from Hong Kong interests never came to fruition.
"It was disappointing that the sale fell through when such big money was at stake," Ritchie, a part-owner, said.
"But it’s not all bad having a horse like him to run in the Derby and take on to a race like the $2 million Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings next spring," Ritchie said.
After the Wellington Stakes Magic Cape (NZ) will have a further start before he contests the Gr. 1 $700,000 Mercedes Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on March 3.
Ritchie will look at one of two options for the final lead-up. These are the Group 1 $150,000 weight-for-age Whakanui Stud International Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 10 or the Group 2 $100,000 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie on February 17.
Courtesy NZTM Update.