Weir to have runners in 2016 Magic Millions Guineas and Cup

Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir will make just his second appearance at the Gold Coast with two runners on Australia’s richest race day.

The stable will have Mahuta in the $2 million Magic Millions Three-Year-Old Guineas and Lucky Hussler in the $1 million Magic Millions Cup, both over 1400m on January 9.

Weir has only had one previous runner at the Gold Coast, Dracs Back, second in the 2007 Hollindale Cup.

“I haven’t had a runner at the Magic Millions before but these are Magic Millions horses and being a 10 million dollar race day it came on the radar,” Weir said.

Mahuta, aiming for a fifth straight success, will be ridden by Brad Rawiller.

The colt graduated from a Kyneton maiden to success at Listed level at Caulfield before taking out the Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington on October 31 and the Sandown Guineas on November 14.

Weir said Mahuta was kept in work for a shot at a share of the $2 million prize money in preference to being set for the Australian Guineas in March.

“He’s a tough horse and has done really well from when he won the Sandown Guineas,” Weir said.

“He hasn’t had a spell and we’ve just mucked around with him at home but the horse is in great shape.”

Lucky Hussler will be lining up for his third Magic Millions raceday after finishing 11th in the Guineas in 2013 and 11th in the Cup in 2014 when prepared by Kent Fleming.

He joined the Weir stable for the spring of 2014 and has notched two Group One victories for Victoria’s premier trainer.

“Ideally another couple of weeks would have been better for him,” Weir said.

“He’s probably got the job ahead as he’s going to have to carry quite a bit of weight being a quality handicap.”

Glen Boss, who rode the gelding to his Group One victories in the William Reid Stakes and Toorak Handicap, again takes the ride.

Both will trial at Terang on Monday before flying to the Gold Coast on Tuesday night.

 

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au

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