Trainer John O’Shea revealed that imported stayer Magic Hurricane could be set for the 2015 The Metropolitan during the Spring Racing Carnival after he made his Australian racing debut with a victory in the Randwick City Council Handicap at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Magic Hurricane made his Australian racing debut with a victory in the Randwick City Council Handicap. Photo by: Steve Hart
Magic Hurricane was extremely well backed in the lead-up to the Randwick City Council Handicap and jockey Brodie Loy elected to press forward on the imported stayer in the early stages of the rave and he settled him in a lovely position on the rail.
Loy waited patiently on Magic Hurricane and the Hurricane Run gelding responded well when asked for an extra effort and he finished over the top of Pajaro and to record an impressive first up win.
O’Shea was impressed with the performance of Magic Hurricane in his Australian racing debt and he told Sky Racing HQ that a race like The Metropolitan would not be above the five-year-old in the spring.
“It was just nice to get home on the board,” O’Shea said.
“Obviously he has a lot of improvement and will get better as the trips get longer and it was a nice little day out for him to get the job done.
“He is a lovely, progressive, tough and sound horse that raced just a tier below in Europe.
“He has his racing career ahead of him, we will see where he fits in during the spring.”
O’Shea has given Brodie Loy a number of opportunities on Godolphin gallopers while the likes of James McDonald, Blake Shinn, Tommy Berry and Hugh Bowman have been in Queensland for the 2015 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival and O’Shea said that he has been pleased with the efforts of the rising goop.
Loy was thrilled to be given the opportunity to ride Magic Hurricane in his Australian racing debut and he told the media after the race that he believes the imported galloper will be able to produce an even better effort when he gets up in trip during the spring.
“Magic Hurricane is a very nice horse who is only going to get better over a distance,’’ Loy said.
“At the top of the straight he was going to take a few strides to go through his gears but once he did he felt really nice and strong to the line.”
Magic Hurricane is currently available at 2015 Melbourne Cup odds of $41 with Ladbrokes.
