Trainer Mick Price has revealed that Nordic Empire will take his place in the 2014 Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic field if he performs well at Canterbury on Saturday.
Nordic Empire is rated one of the leading chances in the Magic Millions Classic after recording an impressive win in the Flemington Equine Clinic Plate on debut. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Nordic Empire had his first experience running in a clockwise direction at Caulfield on Saturday, after recording an impressive debut victory at the same venue on November 30, and thrived; flying home in less than 24 seconds for his last 400 metres and indicating that he will not have a problem in the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast on January 11.
The Wilander colt will contest the Two-Year-Old Plate (1200m) at Canterbury Park on Saturday and Price told TVN that he will head to the Gold Coast if he performs well in the $85,000 event.
“He’s only a young horse but in the last 10 days he’s put on good body weight,” Price said.
“I’m really happy with him, he’s going in the right direction.
“He’s not a big, strong, robust two-year-old, but if he goes good at Canterbury and trains on a little bit he’ll go to the Magic Millions.
“I just hope his constitution takes him there.
“His ability will easily take him there; his constitution has to take him there.”
Price has never had much past success at the Gold Coast Magic Millions but is set to have two runners in the 2014 edition of the Magic Millions Classic; with Charge Forward colt Geromayo also on track to contest the $2 million event.
Geromayo made his racing debut with a fifth place finish behind Moonlight Hussler in the Listed Inglis Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on October 12 and finished second behind Sheer Style in the Magic Millions Clockwise Classic (1000m) at Ballarat on November 24.
The two-year-old was unable to record his maiden race win but earned himself a trip to the Gold Coast after finishing second behind Bjorn Baker-trained Unencumbered in the Wyong Magic Millions Classic (1100m) on Thursday.
Echo Gal ($5.50) is a narrow favourite in Magic Millions betting markets from Oakleigh Girl ($6) and Unencumbered ($6.50), with Nordic Empire ($7.50) on the fourth line of betting from Geromayo who is currently available at Magic Millions odds of $11.
