Sydney may be without a headline race this weekend, but Sunday’s Rosehill program will still carry weight for Rob and Annabel Archibald as they look to lock in their Magic Millions squad.

The training partnership will send out West Of Africa and Mickey’s Medal in the TAB Handicap (1400m), with both runners auditioning for a January trip to the Gold Coast.

West Of Africa produced a dazzling victory in this year’s Magic Millions Cup (1400m), and Rob Archibald says the stable is keen to return.

“He was really good that day. He’s going well and hopefully we can get him there again,” Archibald said.

“We have given him a nice break to prepare him for this. His trials have been good, and he seems really well, but it is just a starting point on Sunday, and he’ll improve a lot.”

With apprentice Braith Nock claiming, West Of Africa will carry 60kg and must navigate barrier 11, while Mickey’s Medal has drawn favourably in gate four.

Mickey’s Medal rarely runs a bad race, finishing in the top three in 17 of his 28 starts, and Archibald was pleased with his first-up run behind Kintyre at Canberra, where he found the line strongly.

“He was beaten by Kintyre, who was a bit deeper into his preparation,” Archibald said.

“He will improve again into this, and he is also on a Magic Millions path if we can get him there.”

Another stable hopeful, Mortal Halo, will aim to make his case in the Vinnie @ Yarraman Park Handicap (1500m).

A talented juvenile who campaigned in Brisbane last winter, he resumed with an easy win at Scone before finishing second to Ivan’s Hero when taking on older horses last start.

Mortal Halo was withdrawn from Doomben on Saturday in favour of this race, and Archibald hopes he can earn his way into the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m).

“I think he’s a really nice horse in the making,” he said.

“He’s another who could potentially go to the Guineas. He will have to win his way into that, but he’s definitely got ability.”

The trio will be joined by Plundering, Bella Corazon and the consistent Tuned among six Rosehill runners for the Archibalds on the relocated Sunday meeting, shifted due to extreme heat forecast for Saturday.

Punters can compare Magic Millions odds for all potential runners at Australia’s leading betting sites.