Racing: Primo primed for bigger things

Primo Canera ridden by Richard Eynon (right) takes on Crown Dancer. Sandra Mu / Getty Images

The $100,000 Great Northern Steeplechase might be three months away, but you can start writing down the name Primo Canera.

New Zealand's most exciting emerging steeplechaser put his hand up to win New Zealand's most famous jumping race when he won against the predictions of many at Ellerslie yesterday.

Even co-trainer Ann Browne thought the heavy track would be too tough for Primo Canera in the $30,000 Lindauer McGregor Grant Steeplechase in his first jumping start this winter.

This was no fluke win even though the raging favourite Just The Man, last year's Northern winner, was badly inconvenienced.

His rider Nathan Hanley rode the last lap of the race with a dislocated shoulder.

But even Hanley was prepared to admit that this had been Primo Canera's day. "He won too well for me to say we would have beaten him," said a pain-consumed Hanley as he waited for an ambulance to take him to Auckland Hospital for x-rays.

Just The Man, after a blunder with a round to travel that caused Hanley's problem, finished third 24 lengths away.

Primo Canera has always had an enormous future predicted for him despite a roach back that you would imagine would put prospective buyers off and make him extremely difficult to ride.

His spinal development looks like a boomerang.

"He wasn't always like that," said Browne. "At least I don't remember him being as bad as that when he was a young horse."

Apparently riding him is a lot more comfortable than you'd imagine.

"He's one of only a few of our horses I haven't ridden, but those that ride him say he's very comfortable."

It certainly looked a comfortable ride for Richard Eynon, who was happy to take the big bloke up to force the issue with a round to travel.

Browne was right on one level, Primo Canera certainly looked to shorten stride and struggle a little when he landed over the second last fence and hit the heavier footing on the course proper.

But he had the race won by then and he was able to run the last 400m on sheer heart.

Hanley's woes began when he fell at Paeroa two weeks ago, suffering ligament and muscle damage to a shoulder.

Yesterday was his first day back riding. "I'd been passed fit by three doctors to ride, but I deliberately left it until today."

Hanley was in such intense pain when Just The Man reached for a fence with a round to travel that he strongly considered pulling up.

He had Just The Man led back to the birdcage and could not take the saddle off the horse. "You can say it wasn't very comfortable for that last round - it's very difficult riding them out with one hand."

But the day belonged to Primo Canera.

* Dave Emerson's involvement in Magic Cape's stunning debut win at Ellerslie yesterday goes back three years. The director of Christchurch's Metropolitan Trotting Club was in Sydney to see Oxborough Princess run in a galloping race.

Shaune Ritchie trained the filly and when she ran unplaced, Emerson told his trainer that if he won the upcoming Easter Cup at Addington with Oxborough Castle he would take a quarter share in another galloper.

The pacer won the Cup and Ritchie, by then moved back to New Zealand, kept his owner to his promise.

"I'm glad he did," said Emerson, who races Magic Cape in a syndicate of nine.

Ritchie's involvement with Magic Cape also goes back a long way.

"I saw him as a weanling at Windsor Park and liked him.

"When I saw him as a yearling I followed him through and bought him at the Ready To Run sale for $50,000."

Magic Cape looked a 100 to 1 chance when clear last on settling, but rider Patrick Holmes said he was never worried. "He's a smarty, he thinks he knows best, but I knew he was still a big chance early."

Magic Cape quickly gathered in the opposition on the home turn and won as he liked.

* Shanamann and El Perez are headed to Melbourne after two very good wins yesterday. Shanamann, in particular, shouldered his 58kg with remarkable ease in the $35,000 Cornwall Handicap.