Magician will have his last hit out in Tasmania on Sunday night in Launceston as he prepares for a tilt at the $150,000 Group 1 Len Smith Mile at Menangle on Eureka night, 7 September.
The Sweet Lou gelding finished fourth in last year’s Eureka and has won five of his last six starts, including the Golden Mile on 7 July, where he equalled the Tasmanian record of 1:54.1s, which was also a track record time in Launceston for 1680m.
He has drawn outside of the front-row in the 6ty Free For All (2200m) on Sunday, which has attracted a small but select field, and goes into the race off a Hobart win over 2579m last week, where he started off a 30m handicap.
“He felt really good on the night. He was nice and strong, and normally, when he runs past other horses, he stops and waits for them, but he didn’t that time.
“He pulled up really good, so we thought we would get another race into him before he goes,” said trainer-driver Todd Rattray.
“Miss Papenhuyzen has drawn one, and is always hard to beat. Keayang Fitzy has stepped up in grade and also drawn well. Rattray added.
Also making the trip north are Nyack and De Goey, the two placegetters behind Fighter Command in last week’s Beautide.
Nyack will be aimed at a race restricted to Australian-bred three and four-year-olds on 31 August, where the first four placegetters will be listed as the emergency for the Eureka that slot holders can choose from.
On Eureka night, there is also a race restricted to Australian bred three and four-year-olds, The Stockade, worth $100,000, which is high on the agenda.
“We are on the boat on Tuesday night and should be in Sydney on Thursday to give him plenty of time to prepare for those races.
“He is up and going. Other than the free-for-all races, which he is up to competing in, there isn’t much down here for him. We will have a go at it and see what happens,” Rattray said.
Trainer Rohan Hadley has left De Goey in the hands of the Rattray family and could follow the same path as Nyack, with Todd also indicating there are many racing options for the pacer at Menangle over the coming week.
Todd also indicated he has a few other pacers that are being considered to make the trip, including Maebee and Hunt A Rainbow, with his brother Adam also considering camping Kuzma on the trip.
