By Ainsley Walters, Staff ReporterCRIMSON MAGIC has skipped two classes for a shot at this afternoon's Altamont V. Armond Memorial Cup and will be a tough nut to crack at 2000 metres among $260,000 claimers.
The distance-loving six-year-old horse has found $390,000 claimers in a different league since last summer's purse increase started luring Overnight Allowance horses down to the level. However, the Everal Francis-trained runner will be pretty comfortable on a $250,000 tag and looks ready to land his first race since slamming OK DON by three lengths last March.
Sparingly raced last season, CRIMSON MAGIC held his own in seven starts, winning once and finishing close-up third on two occasions behind DANCING FLAME and ZEEDON sharing victories.
He uncharacteristically made his 2004 debut at 1100 metres two weeks ago on a $390,000 tag and brought up the rear behind SAINT COLUMBA. However, that run can be safely thrown out the window as a pipe-opener for the late-kicking runner, who has looked in good shape at exercise, galloping an easy 1:17.2 for six furlongs last Saturday morning.
PATAS DE FUEGO, who was nabbed at 1700 metres by RAPIDASH three weeks ago, should be CRIMSON'S MAGIC's main danger in the small field. After stepping down to $210,000 company late last year, the six-year-old gelding has steadily clawed his way back up the ladder, posting a hat-trick on the way.
However, $250,000 company hasn't proven too easy a group for the Garrett Arscott-trained runner, who scraped home at 1700 metres to close out the hat-trick by a nose over LADY ISIS in December and hasn't beaten the level since, resulting in him being caught by a generally off-colour RAPIDASH.
PATAS DE FUEGO is fit but will find it tough to beat CRIMSON MAGIC, who's aimed too low to lose. Francis' charge is running on lasix for the second time and has two-kilo claiming apprentice Oneil Mullings aboard for a shot at the trophy. He has back class and will be closing too fast in the stretch run to be denied.
