Magic Hurricane A Clear Favourite In The Metropolitan Betting

Magic Hurricane is currently available at 2015 The Metropolitan odds of $3.80 and he is set to start the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick on Saturday as a clear favourite.

Magic Hurricane is set to start the 2015 The Metropolitan as a clear favourite. Photo by: Steve Hart

Magic Hurricane is set to start the 2015 The Metropolitan as a clear favourite. Photo by: Steve Hart

Magic Hurricane made his Australian racing debut in the winter with a win at Royal Randwick on June 6 and he is yet to produce a bad performance in his five race starts in Sydney.

The Hurricane Run gelding claimed his maiden black type victory with a narrow win over Silverball in the Listed Premier’s Cup (1800m) and he was only narrowly denied another victory when second behind Preferment in the Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on September 19.

O’Shea believes that the three week break between runs cost Magic Hurricane the win in the Hill Stakes, but he is confident that the five-year-old has had an ideal lead-up for the 2015 The Metropolitan this weekend.

“Magic Hurricane did a bit well between runs,” O’Shea told Racing Ahead.

“He had three weeks between runs and it just told when Hughie flushed them all out and we had to make a long run on him.

“He drops significantly in weight coming from weight-for-age and his mile and a half form in Europe is good.

“Mac (James McDonald) can put him to sleep from the gate and he has that great turn-of-foot when he does put himself away early in the race.

“We are really happy with him, he has made dramatic improvement since his last start and that race provides good form lead-up going into The Metrop.”

Magic Hurricane is joined in the 2015 The Metropolitan field by Havana Cooler, who is still chasing his first win in Australia after he made his Sydney racing debut with a fast-finishing sixth in the Merrylands RSL Club Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 15.

Havana Cooler failed to beat a horse home in the Listed Wyong Cup (2080m) on September 4 and he did not have any luck in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 12, but O’Shea is confident that the imported galloper can produce an improved effort when he steps-up to 2400 metres in The Metropolitan.

“Havana Cooler has just been crying out for a mile and a half,” O’Shea said.

“He had an aberration at Wyong so we had to get him back into the game a week later and give him a burn around after Wyong.

“He is desperate for a big track and a mile and a half and he gets that on Saturday.

“Moreira will give him a gun run and his price doesn’t justify the chance that he is in the race.”

Magic Hurricane is currently available at 2015 The Metropolitan odds of $3.80 with Ladbrokes and is a clear favourite from Almoonqith ($7), Beaten Up ($8), Chance To Dance ($8.50), Beyond Thankful ($11), Orbec ($11), Junoob ($12), Maurus ($14) and Havana Cooler ($15).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.