Trainer Mick Price has confirmed that both Nordic Empire and Geromayo will contest the $2 million 2014 Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 11.
Nordic Empire is currently available at 2014 Magic Millions odds of $7.50 despite suffering a surprise defeat at his last start. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Nordic Empire suffered the first defeat of his racing career in the TAB IPad App Plate (1200m) at Canterbury last Saturday and Price said after the race that the Wilander colt was no certainty to contest the Magic Millions Classic.
Price wanted to access the condition of Nordic Empire when he arrived at the Gold Coast on Thursday and told TVN this morning that the two-year-old had settled in to his new environment nicely and would take his position in the lucrative event.
Nordic Empire made his racing debut with an impressive two lengths victory over Zulu Land and Lucky Strike in the Flemington Equine Clinic Plate (1000m) at Caulfield on November 30 but had his preparation stalled by the controversy surrounding his former owners BC3 Thoroughbreds.
The classy colt went into his second start at Canterbury as a clear favourite but overraced, was hampered at the 600 metre mark and was blocked for a run in the final stages of the race.
Joining Nordic Empire in the Magic Millions Classic will be Geromayo who is still chasing his first race win after having three starts since making his debut with a fifth place finish behind Moonlight Hussler in the Lised Inglis Debutant Stakes (1000m) on Caulfield Guineas Day.
The Charge Forward colt went into the Magic Millions Clockwise Classic (1000m) at Ballarat on November 24 as an outsider but performed well to finish second behind Sheer Style, despite laying out in the straight.
Geromayo returned to the races on December 19 in the Wyong Magic Millions Classic (1100m) and battled home to finish second behind Unencumbered, who went on to stamp himself as the favourite for the 2014 Magic Millions Classic with a victory in the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) last Saturday.
Nordic Empire will do a light piece of work at the Gold Coast tomorrow, while Geromayo is set to do a more serious piece of work on the course proper.
Unencumbered ($4.20) remains the favourite in 2014 Magic Millions Classic betting markets; with Nordic Empire ($7.50) on the third line of betting from Geromayo who is available at odds of $10.
