Slowly slowly for Justa Kinda Magic

Paul Duncan isn't get too far ahead of himself with ''day-to-day proposition'' Justa Kinda Magic.

But the Cambridge trainer can't help dreaming about the big time with a galloper who seems to possess all the ability to get there.

Well-ridden by stable jockey Matthew Cameron, Justa Kinda Magic worked forward midrace to sit outside the leader before showing his class with a typically smart win, bounding away with a long-raking action to score by two lengths from Sands Of Time and La Etoile.

''He was really good today,'' Cameron said afterwards.

''Last start he was just a bit of a dick in the gates and cost himself. Today he's jumped out of the gates well, they've gone really slow up front so down the back side I went up and from there he's strode up to them and kicked away easily in the straight.''

Duncan told Racing Times on Friday that the Gr II $200,000 City Of Auckland Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie on January 1 was the long-term goal for Justa Kinda Magic but in the wake of his win in the $14,000 Credit Union North over 1600m, he was having second thoughts.

''If he keeps winning at a mile like that, we may look to change plans,'' Duncan said.

''He'll go to the Gr III mile [Eagle Technology Stakes] at Ellerslie at the end of the month and that will give him three weeks between races.

''There's heaps of improvement in him. He's blown quite hard after that. He's a day-to-day proposition and I take him one race at a time. I just look after his legs and try not to get too far ahead of myself.''

Duncan said Justa Kinda Magic suffered from sesamoiditis and had suffered a suspensory injury when he was younger.

Duncan and Cameron also enjoyed success with promising Commands four-year-old Khemosabi, a slashing maiden winner at just his second start.

''I really like him,'' Duncan said after Khemosabi stuck on strongly from the pace to score by 1 1/2 lengths from Handsome Zulu.

''He's a beauty, a real tough horse. He'd rather walk over you than go around.''

Cameron began the day on a high note, guiding the Frank Ritchie-trained Everlasting to a smart debut win in the Esker Lodge 2yo (1000m).

The General Nediym colt had won both his trials and made no mistake in the opener.

''He was impressive but still a bit green,'' Cameron said.
''He still doesn't know what he's doing. Once he got a gap and got out I gave him one behind, though he's run around, he's won really well.''

- © Fairfax NZ News