Magic Millions 3YO Guineas favourite Mahuta stranded in Victoria

MAGIC Millions Guineas favourite Mahuta was stranded in Victoria yesterday but trainer Darren Weir is still upbeat ahead of the $2 million race.

Sandown Races

MAGIC Millions Guineas favourite Mahuta was left stranded in Victoria yesterday but trainer Darren Weir is confident it won’t affect his tilt at the $2 million race on the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Mahuta and Magic Millions Cup fancy Lucky Hussler were due to board a plane from Melbourne to Queensland on Tuesday night but the flight was cancelled leaving both horses stuck in Victoria just three days out from the big race day.

Weir admits it’s far from the ideal preparation but is confident the minor setback won’t affect either horse’s chances providing they could fly to Queensland overnight.

“It’s not ideal but there’s nothing you can do about it,” Weir said from the Gold Coast yesterday.

“I galloped them on Monday and thought I would fly them up on Tuesday but hopefully we can get them on a plane (last night).

“They will be right and they are fit and well and they worked at Ballarat (yesterday morning).

“It shouldn’t bother them as long as they can get here.”

Weir said in a worst-case scenario Mahuta and Lucky Hussler could fly to Queensland tonight “but it is getting pretty close then”.

Mahuta is still a $4 favourite with UBET for the 3YO Guineas despite drawing awkwardly in barrier 20.

He will jump from gate 15 if the emergencies don’t run and Weir is hopeful he can overcome the tricky draw.

The other query facing Mahuta is the fact the race is his first in a clockwise direction.

But Weir said the Flying Spur colt had shown all the signs he would handle it.

“You would prefer it our way but he has had two trials the reverse way at Terang and both were good,” he said.

“Until you race them you don’t know but he seems to be getting around the other way all right.”

The 3YO Guineas will be Mahuta’s first start since he won the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) on November 14 but Weir said fitness would not be an issue.

“He won the Sandown Guineas and then went straight to our beach stable and stayed in work,” he said.

Weir also described barrier nine as “ideal” for Lucky Hussler in the Magic Millions Cup and feels the Gold Coast-owned galloper will acquit himself well.

“Both horses are in good shape and I’m hoping they both run well,” he said.