Weir hopes history repeats in latest Magic Millions raid
Group 1 winners Stratum Star and Lucky Hussler among team of four
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RACING: Darren Weir made a faultless hit-and-run expedition to last year's Magic Millions and is planning another raid this weekend, with multiple Group 1 winners Stratum Star and Lucky Hussler among his team of four.
Last year's Magic Millions Guineas winner Mahuta is an absentee, but Lucky Hussler will be back to defend his Magic Millions Cup crown and last-start Kingston Town Classic (Group 1) winner Stratum Star will stretch to the 2200m of the Magic Millions Trophy.
Lucky Hussler, who has not raced since winning the Group 3 Heffernan Stakes at Sandown on November 12, will trial at Terang on Tuesday.
Weir is keen to give the seven-year-old a solid hitout before he heads north.
"He's good,” Weir said. "He's been aimed at this race.”
Stratum Star galloped between races at Warrnambool on Sunday and Weir believes this is the right race in which to try him beyond 2040m for the first time.
Weir noted his only start at 2040m resulted in a close second in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes two years ago, while at 2000m, the five-year-old is a winner of the Group 3 David Jones Cup (Coongy).
"The barrier is the key to him,” Weir said. "If he gets a good barrier, 2200m won't be a problem.
''If he gets a tricky barrier, then it could be a problem.”
The champion trainer toyed with the idea of spelling Stratum Star after Perth, but the prizemoney this weekend proved too big a lure.
"I thought 'He is going well enough, it's a $1 million race and he runs well in whatever you put him in',” he said.
Weir will also have Kenjorwood against Lucky Hussler in the Cup and Hijack Hussy in the Fillies and Mares.
Kenjorwood will be dropping back to 1400m after winning his past two starts in a 1600m open handicap at Flemington and the Listed Lord Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield.
"He would be that tough having those hard races under his belt,'' Weir said. ''And he's not going to get to run in too many $1 million races.''
Hijack Hussy is coming off a last-start win at Flemington.
Brad Rawiller will ride Lucky Hussler while Damian Lane has been booked for the other three mounts.
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