Godolphin’s head trainer John O’Shea on Saturday confirmed plans to target The Metropolitan 2015 with the team’s progressive stayer Magic Hurricane who charged home in a fighting finish at Rosehill to win the Premier’s Cup.

Premier’s Cup winner Magic Hurricane will target the 2015 The Metropolitan this Sydney Spring Racing Carnival. Photo: Steve Hart.

Showing lots of upside in his run the improving Hurricane Run six-year-old import ran second-up in the $100,000 Listed Premier’s Cup (1800m) on the back of a third at the same track over 1400m in the Spring Preview a fortnight ago.

Sam Clipperton retained the ride on the lightly raced gelding who relished the 54kg minimum in the Premier’s Cup, a weight that helped him have enough in his final few strides to charge down the leader Silverball and snare the win.

Deep on the track early, it was Spurtonic who went forward to lead the Premier’s Cup field around ahead of the Winter Cup winner Kapour.

Chris Waller’s Flying Spur six-year-old Spurtonic, eighth in the Premier’s Cup Prelude last time out when carting a heft 62kg, was then in third just ahead of stablemate Beyond Thankful who settled midfield in fourth.

Magic Hurricane was saved early by Clipperton racing along in fifth.

At the 1000m Spurtonic looked relaxed in the lead with Beyond Thankful slipping through to a clear third giving Silverball plenty of cover.

On the run for home, Silverball moved up three deep while last start Premier’s Cup Prelude winner Beyond Thankful looked for the inside run and Magic Hurricane started to charge down the outside.

Making a move, Silverball went to the front and looked a runaway winner until Magic Hurricane came after him turning it into a two horse race with the dynamic duo going stride-for-stride down the straight.

Magic Hurricane ($3.70) drove hard on the outside and got up to beat the market mover Silverball ($3.30) a head on the line getting the money in a tight final 100m while Ciaron Maher’s returning Grafton Cup runner-up Kapour ($6) ran a nice first-up run over 1800m to cross third.

On paper Silverball and Magic Hurricane appeared the class two and it played out that way on race day as the two progressive stayers geared up for a nice Sydney Spring Racing Carnival targeting the $750,000 Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick on Epsom Handicap Day, October 3.

O’Shea was delighted by the run of his Premier’s Cup winner Magic Hurricane who he had tipped as a genuine weight-for-age galloper over 2000m next year.

“Lovely effort,” he said post-win.

“He relaxed lovely, I think he’s got a nice future ahead of him when he gets to weight-for-age over 2000m (next year).

“A beautiful turn of foot.

“They (he and Silverball) cleared out for an exciting finish.

“His main goal (this season) will be The Metropolitan then we’ll wait and see.

“We’ll probably run him in the Hill after this as he likes to be a little bit fresh.

“He’s an exciting horse for the boss.”

The $200,000 Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) runs at Randwick on September 19 and presents as a good The Metropolitan lead-up for both Magic Hurricane and Silverball.

To get behind Magic Hurricane next race and access the futures markets for the upcoming Spring Group 1s like The Metropolitan Handicap, visit Ladbrokes.com.au now!

2015 Premier’s Cup Results & Finishing Order

Rosehill Race 4 – 29/08/2015