Racing: Ritchie has early spring carnival tip

Alison Ritchie, wife of trainer Shaune, leads Keep The Peace after her win at Hastings last season. Photo / APN

Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie had not so bright news yesterday but also the kind that could give punters an early leg-up on the Melbourne Spring Carnival.

Fitness issues forced Ritchie to cancel plans for domestic cup hopefuls Hidden Asset and Mr Legs to kick off their new campaigns at Ruakaka today.

But after watching his triple group one winner Keep The Peace trial on her home track yesterday, those minor setbacks were a lot easier to stomach.

The hit-out over 1200m was the high-class mare's last public appearance before leaving for Melbourne next Wednesday.

Her first-up target is the group two Let's Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington the following Saturday with regular rider James McDonald aboard.

Though Jason Waddell and Keep The Peace were beaten by Fast Love and lightweight apprentice Alex Forbes yesterday, Ritchie was thrilled with the run from the fresh-up specialist who has thrived at her winter base in Ruakaka.

"I'm supremely happy with her," confirmed Ritchie.

"This could be a chance for Kiwis to get a quid in the Let's Elope - she might slip under the guard of the Aussies after her most recent run there," said Ritchie.

That was when she finished last of seven when heavily favoured to win the 2000m Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill in March with McDonald also riding.

But Ritchie now feels the best chance to add to the impressive black type haul for her New York banker owner is by restricting the 5-year-old to 1400m-1600m events while in a fresh state.

Ritchie says she was never a serious hope to defend her Mudgway (now the Makfi Challenge Stakes) crown at Hastings on Saturday because there's more broodmare gold to mine across the Tasman.

Safely through the Let's Elope, she will reappear in the group one Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on October 29.

Meanwhile, Ritchie saddles two runners at Ruakaka today, Moirai (R6) and Artistic (R9) and both 3-year-olds can be followed with some confidence.

Ritchie rates the more forward Artistic the better chance of the pair in leg four of the $40,000 Pick6.

Although awkwardly drawn, he says the Darci Brahma filly has a stack of ability; the 1000 Guineas is her major spring target.

"She does have a habit of missing the kick but I wouldn't want to see her follow them around," he said.

Moirai, the mount of McDonald, has had an easier time of it since her last-start fifth in the listed Castletown Stakes on June 6.

But the speedster still has to rate a hope over 1000m in maiden company if she gets away with a soft sectional somewhere, said Ritchie.

Another promising filly, local Writteninthestars, (leg three) looks an outstanding anchor type in race eight.

The Donna and Dean Logan trained filly also drops back from richer company after chasing Fieldofdreams home in the club's feature juvenile event over the same trip on July 16.

She's drawn an inside gate again and is well placed with just 54kg.

Stablemate O'Tryst, another Jason Collett mount, shapes as an early bank-builder.

The O'Reilly 4-year-old is yet to race beyond 1800m, but she's out of a Grosvenor mare and had the look of a 2100m type when a last-start third here over 1600m on August 5.

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