Magic Millions race day: Weir hoping history repeats in return Gold Coast expedition
MONDAY MAIL: DARREN Weir made a faultless hit-and-run expedition to last year’s Magic Millions and is planning another raid this weekend.
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.
MONDAY MAIL
With Nathan Exelby
RIDE OF THE DAY
Chris Parnham, Slydini (3rd), Gold Coast, Race 8: May not have won, but coaxed enough out of the 40-1 pop to land third and hence draw the Origin jockey series after he’d won on Ringo’s A Rockstar. Huge effort from the Parnham brothers given WA didn’t have the best of opportunities through the series.
THREE TO BACK
Dylan’s Luck, Gold Coast, Race 5: Friendless in the betting and gave away an impossible start before peeling many lengths off the winner late. Better over further and a great return.
Motion Granted, Gold Coast, Race 7: Stepped up to Saturday grade, handled the task nicely, beating all bar the talented Ringo’s A Rockstar. Racing in great form at the moment.
Make My Own Luck, Gold Coast, Race 2: In a different league to the winner, but found the line nicely and is going to be better suited over further.
THREE TO SACK
Caillebotte, Gold Coast, Race 3: Has never lived up to his big win at Doomben last preparation. Failed to let down again here in a class of race that should have suited.
Open Book, Gold Coast, Race 8: Nothing in the vet report and trainer and jockey were at a loss over the performance. Will now be freshened, but hasn’t won for a long time.
Harlem Lady, Warwick Farm, Race 3: Apprentice came in for some criticism, but this mare has been hard to follow right throughout her career. Has ability on her day, but the get back style is conducive to more bad luck than good.
LATEST MARKETS
MAGIC MILLIONS 3YO GUINEAS
$1.60 Winning Rupert
$4.20 Global Glamour
$13 Niccolance
$15 Miss Wonderland
$16 Billy The Kid, Candika
$17 Dam Ready, Eckstein
$19 River Racer
$21+Others
Market: UBET
MAGIC MILLIONS 2YO CLASSIC
Gold Coast, Saturday
$3.60 Houtzen
$4.60 From Within
$7 Invincible Star
$8.50 Madeenaty
$11 Ours To Keep
$16 Goodfella
$18 Falconic
Market: TAB Fixed Odds
MAGIC MILLIONS 2YO CLASSIC: TAB FIXED ODDS
MAGIC MILLIONS 3YO GUINEAS: TAB FIXED ODDS
THIS WEEK
Tuesday: Mackay, Kempsey, Nowra, Yarra Valley
Wednesday: Eagle Farm, Canterbury, Sandown, Murray Bridge, Bunbury, Devonport
Thursday: Rockhampton, Muswellbrook, Geelong, Penola, Geraldton
Friday: Doomben, Ballina, Gosford, Ararat, Cranbourne
Saturday: Gold Coast, Randwick, Flemington, Morphettville, Ascot, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Kembla Grange, Glen Innes, Camperdown, Albany, Darwin
Sunday: Sunshine Coast, Scone, Wellington, Ballarat, Strathalbyn, Pinjarra
UBET WEEKEND WRAP
Best backed: Houtzen (GC Race 2, $1.35-$1.30, WON); Mr Manhattan (SR7, 40 per cent of the hold, unplaced); Special Diva (MR4, $6.50-$4.40, WON)
Hard to lay: Open Book (GC Race 8, $5-$8, unplaced); Harlem Lady (SR3, $2.70-$5, unplaced); Nasdex (MR2, $3.70-$4.20, unplaced)
Bookie bashers: Ringo’s A Rockstar (GC Race 7); Colesberg (SR1, $35, worst result across the entire day); Plein Ciel (MR7)
Early bird special: Eckstein (GC Race 6, $3.60-$3.20, WON); Arbeitsam (SR2, $10-$6.50); Skullduggery (MR5, $13-$5.50)
Left in the bag: Rough Eddie (GC Race 6, $10-$5, unplaced); Single Bullet (SR1, $1.65, 2nd); Ameristralia (MR6, $2.20, 3rd)
THE QUOTE
“He’s a nice horse but maybe still a prep away.”
— Ben Melham on Single Bullet, who became the first of the major MM fancies to fall by the wayside on Saturday at Warwick Farm.
THE TALKING POINT
Which formline is stronger? Sydney or Queensland? The stage is set for a great State of Origin style build-up for this week’s Magic Millions 2YO, with all answers set to come on Saturday, surrounded by a fantastic support card.
Originally published as Magic Millions race day: Weir hoping history repeats in return Gold Coast expedition
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