Luck deserted dual Group 1 winner Lucky Hussler at the barrier draw for the $1m Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Lucky Hussler, above, has drawn a wide barrier in the Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Darren Weir trained Lucky Hussler came up with barrier eighteen when the final field of sixteen plus three emergencies was released earlier today.
Lucky Hussler, with Blake Shinn in the saddle, will be first up since running fifth to Dollar For Dollar in the Group 3 $150,000 Sandown Stakes (1500m) at Sandown on November 18 and will have to carry the top weight of 61kg.
The eight year old is a dual Group 1 winner and also the winner of the 2016 Magic Millions Cup which is one of his ten wins from forty-eight race starts.
Lucky Hussler broke through for his initial Group 1 win during the 2015 Melbourne Autumn Carnival with a win in the Group 1 $400,000 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at The Valley and then added another Group 1 trophy to his collection with a win in the $400,000 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Lucky Hussler had mixed form during the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival but did manage a win in the Group 2 $200,000 Schweppes Crystal Mile (1600m) at The Valley on Cox Plate Day.
Weir will also saddle up Ozi Choice and Nikitas in the Magic Millions Cup with both those runners also drawing wide barriers.
Apprentice Ben Thompson will ride Ozi Choice who draw barrier fourteen while Nikitas, who drew gate fifteen, is also an acceptor in the Listed $120,000 Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday with barrier eleven from twelve.
The Liam Birchley trained Crack Me Up will be having his first run since winning the Group 2 $250,000 Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on December 16 and has drawn nicely at barrier five with Damian Browne booked to ride.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Aebeitsam has drawn the rails with Tim Clark to ride while the in-form Care To Think from the Matthew Dunn stable drew the extreme outside barrier for Jeff Lloyd.