Dual Group 1 winner Lucky Hussler is ready to defend his title in the $1m Woodford Reserve Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Lucky Hussler, above, is primed to win back to back Magic Millions Cups at the Gold Coast. Photo by Steve Hart.
Lucky Hussler scored a comfortable win over Strawberry Boy in the 2016 Magic Millions Cup and trainer Darren Weir said that the seven year old gelding is primed to make it back to back wins at the rich Magic Millions Carnival this year.
“He’s good. He had a gallop on Saturday morning and he’ll have a trial at Terang on Tuesday and then he’s ready to go,” Weir told AAP.
“He’s been aimed at this race and he’s got to have a good solid hit-out on Tuesday.”
Lucky Hussler has won once over the last twelve months since his Magic Millions Cup win and was sent for a spell after scoring narrowly in the Group 3 $150,000 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m) at Sandown November 12.
The seven year old sprinter-miler came close to making it three Group 1 wins when second to Suavito in the $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 13 at his very next start after winning at the Gold Coast.
Lucky Hussler found the Group 1 winner’s stall for the first time during the 2015 Melbourne Autumn Carnival when he stormed home for Glen Boss to cause a minor upset in the $400,000 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
Boss was also aboard when Lucky Hussler once again came from well back in the field to record his second Group 1 success in the $400,000 David Jones NBCF Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Lucky Hussler will be joined by stalemate Kenjorwood in the Magic Millions Cup while other Weir trained horse to visit the Gold Coast are Group 1 winner Stratum Star and last start Flemington winner Hijack Hussy.
Kenjorwood is the winner of his last two starts, a 1600m Handicap at Flemington on December 17 followed by a win in the Listed $120,000 Swettenham Stud Lord Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield on December 26.
Stratum Star will step out in the $1m Moet & Chandon Magic Millions Trophy (2200m) after winning the Group 1 $1m Peters Investments-Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot in Perth on December 3.
Hijack Hussy is a last start winner in a 1400m Fillies and Mares BenchMark 84 Handicap at Flemington December 17 and Weir is keen to send her around in the $1m It’s Live! In Queensland Magic Millions Fillies and Mares (1300m).
