Trainer John O’Shea confirmed that Magic Hurricane will press on towards the 2015 The Metropolitan after he scored a narrow victory over Silverball in the 2015 Premier’s Cup at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.
Magic Hurricane outstayed Silverball to take out the 2015 Premier’s Cup at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon. Photo by: Steve Hart
Magic Hurricane was settled in a lovely position by jockey Sam Clipperton in the early stages of the Premier’s Cup, while Spurtonic took up the running from Beyond Thankful.
Silverball travelled like the winner coming around the turn, but he was followed into the race by Magic Hurricane and the Godolphin stayer was able to finish over the top of his rival in the final stages of the Listed event.
O’Shea was thrilled to see Magic Hurricane record the first win of his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign and he said that the son of Hurricane Run will head to the Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on September 19 before he contests the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at the same venue a fortnight later.
“It was a lovely effort and most importantly it was a very good ride in terms of where the horse is going in the future,” O’Shea said.
“He relaxed lovely and I think that he has a nice future ahead of him.
“When he gets to weight-for-age over 2000 he is going to make a lovely horse and he has a wonderful turn-of-foot.
“It is well documented that Chris has a big opinion of his own horse and they cleared out for an exciting finish.
“His main goal will be The Metropolitan and then we will just wait and see.
“We will probably run him in the Hill after this because he likes being a little bit fresh and we will see what it brings.
“He is still nice and bright and burly and he is an exciting horse for the boss.”
Jockey Sam Clipperton partnered Magic Hurricane when he finished third in the Canterbury Hurlstone RSL Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 15, but he was delighted to be able to record a race win on the imported galloper in the Premier’s Cup.
Clipperton said that he was very impressed with the way that Magic Hurricane finished off the Premier’s Cup and he is sure that the five-year-old will take plenty of benefit out of the run.
“They have a nice horse on their hands and he is going on to bigger and better things,” O’Shea said.
“It was nice to see him win today, the second horse kicked hard and it was a nice battle around the straight.
“What I liked was my horses last 100 metres because he really pinned the ears back and won well.”
Magic Hurricane has also been included in the nominations for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and he will be entered for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
