Last summer’s winner Lucky Hussler is back at the Gold Coast Racecourse on Saturday chasing successive victories in the Magic Millions Cup 2017.

Lucky Hussler defends his title in the 2017 Magic Millions Cup on the Gold Coast this weekend. Photo: Daniel Costello.

Twelve months ago the Darren Weir-trained son of Husson raced first-up in the $1 million Restricted Listed Magic Millions Cup (1400m) and carted 60.5kg to a smart one and a half-length win over Strawberry Boy.

He has won just one race since taking out the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m) at Sandown on November 12 and now returns for another fresh run on Magic Millions Race Day.

A dual Group 1 champion, the now seven-year-old has won four from ten first-up and Saturday marks his sixth start at the Gold Coast track.

Lucky Hussler is allocated the 61kg top weight for the Magic Millions Cup this Queensland Summer Racing Carnival and had his final piece of work ahead of the race at Terang in Victoria on Tuesday morning.

One of three Weir-trained runners targeting Magic Millions races on the weekend along with Stratum Star in the Magic Millions Trophy and fellow Cup hope Kenjorwood, Lucky Hussler flies to Brisbane on Wednesday evening.

He and his stablemates impressed Weir’s Warrnambool foreman Jarrod McLean with their Tuesday hit-outs.

“They trialled reverse way over 970m. Lucky Hussler and Stratum Star were there for good hit-outs, while Kenjorwood was just there for a nice gallop,” McLean told Racing Victoria.

“I reckon he’s [Lucky Hussler] fit, he’s well weighted, he won it last year off a similar break, every bit of work he has done has pleased us.

“In the past three weeks Weiry’s really put the screws in him and cranked him up, so it definitely won’t be fitness that beats him on Saturday.”

Also carrying the 61kg top weight in his Magic Millions Trophy assignment, five-year-old Stratum Star was last seen winning Perth’s Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) in early December.

While happy with the horse’s fitness, McLean admits the weight is a worry for the stallion on the weekend.

“If he happens to draw 19 of 19, he might be in trouble,” he said.

The stable is not concerned about how Stratum Star will handle the 2200m of the Trophy though, the race another of the $1 million features on the card.

“He’s great, but obviously he’s got the big weight and is out to the 2200m for the first time,” he said.

“He’s raced and won at 2000m but has never been any further than that, but I think he’ll run the trip no worries at all.”

If Kenjorwood draws badly in the Cup, Weir has indicated the galloper could stay at home for a run at Flemington.

The Melbourne Cup winning trainer will still have three hopes across the Magic Millions races however with the already Queensland situated Hijack Hussy in the mix for the $1 million Fillies & Mares event.

The five-year-old Hussonet mare secured her spot in the 1300m field after winning a lead-up race at Flemington on December 17.

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