Horse Racing

Racing Queensland today released the nominations for the remaining 2012 Magic Millions Race Day features to run at the Gold Coast on Saturday January 14, including those for the Magic Millions Cup.

Dual Group 1 winner Atomic Force is one of the top-rated 2012 Magic Millions Cup entries

Running as one of nine restricted features on the day, the meeting headlined by the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) and the $1 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m), the $330,000 Magic Millions Cup (1400m) this year attracted 32 nominations.

One of the top-rated 2012 Magic Millions Cup nominees and likely favourites when Luxbet markets open is Darren Smith’s dual Group 1 winner Atomic Force.

The Galaxy champion last April in Sydney, Atomic Force added a second elite level title to their record over the weekend when taking out the Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie in New Zealand.

Other notable last-start winners featuring in the Magic Millions Cup entries include the Mark Kavanagh-trained Catapulted who took out the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Monday, Tony Gollan’s Toowoomba galloper Spirit Of Boom coming off a Gold Coast win in the Listed Goldmarket Handicap (1300m) and the Con Karakatsanis-trained Sydney galloper My Destiny coming off four straight victories including the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on Christmas Eve.

Meanwhile Sydney horseman Gerald Ryan must wait and see how his Snitzel four-year-old Top Drop performs in an enforced barrier trial this Friday before being able to confirm their Magic Millions Cup campaign.

Last year’s Magic Millions Guineas third placegetter Top Drop was hugely disappointing last-start when finishing dead last beaten over 18 lengths by Rain Affair in the Listed Carrington Stakes (1100m) at Warwick Farm on Monday after failing to leave the barriers with the rest of the field.

“He has never done anything like it before but he was behaving like a stallion in the barrier and then when the gates opened he didn’t go with them,” Ryan explained.

Stewards have ordered a trial over 1030 metres on Friday, and if Top Drop doesn’t run well then he will be gelded.

“If he goes OK we will proceed to the Gold Coast,” Ryan said.

“If he doesn’t he will be gelded.”

Ryan also nominated 2010 Magic Millions Stayers Cup third placegetter Adnocon for the feature.

Top Queensland hopes among the Magic Millions Cup nominations this year include the Barry Baldwin-trained Demanding Miss who has won her two first-up runs this summer, and Rob Heathcote’s Excellantes.

Former boom three-year-olds returning for more Magic Millions Race Day success include last year’s Magic Millions Guineas winner Torio’s Quest and runner-up Startsmeup.

See below for the full list of 2012 Magic Millions Cup nominations, the final field to be released on Wednesday January 11.

Stay tuned to Races.com.au for all the latest Magic Millions news and field updates.

For the best odds on all of the Magic Millions races this year, including futures markets on the MM Classic and Guineas open right now, head to Luxbet.

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2012 Magic Millions Cup Nominations

Gold Coast – 14/01/2012