Brian Smith is preparing for a big Caloundra Cup Day at the Sunshine Coast this Saturday, the Eagle Farm-based horseman especially happy with his chances in the day’s headline event with Za Magic to line-up in the Caloundra Cup 2013.

Rothera (pictured) is one of three 2013 Caloundra Cup chances for Smith along with Raeburn and Za Magic. Photo: Taron Clarke.

This year’s edition of the $200,000 Listed Yalumba Caloundra Cup (2400m) drew 25 nominations on Monday including three entries from Smith.

Smith chose to nominate for rising nine-year-old Danehill Dancer gelding Raeburn, the former Peter Moody-trained Rothera and Za Magic – the last of which he rates his top chance of taking home the trophy.

Seven-year-old Magic Albert gelding Za Magic may be getting on in the years but their zest for racing is still alive and well as evidenced by their last start effort on June 15.

Za Magic backed up from a nice second over 1818m at Eagle Farm from the start of the month to run third behind Anagold and High Kin in the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) where they were beaten just half a length.

This weekend they will face off against the winning Ipswich Cup quinella again with upset winner Anagold and the New Zealand-trained High Kin both also among the Caloundra Cup nominations for 2013.

Smith is confident they have the improvement in them to turn the tables too.

“He’s never been better and the Ipswich Cup has topped him off for his next run at Caloundra,” Smith said.

Rothera is the other more notable of Smith’s Caloundra Cup contingent having shown plenty of promise this time in including their good third behind Rialya and Shenzhou Steeds in the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday.

Tatt’s Cup runner-up Shenzhou Steeds meanwhile is also set to feature in the Caloundra Cup field as the Michael Moroney-trained gelding vies for back-to-back wins in the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival classic.

Moroney will also be after his second Caloundra Cup win on the trot with his Don Eduardo five-year-old Muirfield who comes off an Ipswich Cup seventh but who jockey Eddie Wilkinson has opted to ride over Shenzhou Steeds.

For all the latest Caloundra Cup 2013 field and betting updates bookmark us here at Races.com.au.

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