Magic Hurricane An Autumn Force

Time/Date - 1625hrs local time/Saturday, February 13, 2016
Racecourse/Country - Randwick/Australia
Surface/Distance - Turf/1400m

A pair of stayers who together confirmed their standing among Australia's staying ranks last Spring return in tandem in the G2 Apollo Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, February 13.

Magic Hurricane and Hauraki followed different paths during their previous preparations but both claimed places among the top group.

For Magic Hurricane (John O'Shea/James McDonald) victory in the G1 Metropolitan at Randwick last October was a suitable reward for the consistency he had shown since arriving in Australia.

In that race he lived up to trainer John O'Shea's expectations in magnificent style, scoring by two lengths.

"He had been a very honest and genuine horse and he deserved a Group One," O'Shea said.

At 1400m, the Apollo Stakes is well short of Magic Hurricane's best distance, but a forward showing wouldn't surprise based on his first local effort last June when he won over the same trip.

Three starts later he scored in Listed company at 1800m and then took showed all of his talents in the G1 Metropolitan.

In the Apollo he is opposed by some class opposition, including the outstanding filly Winx, winner of the G1 Cox Plate and two other G1 races last Spring, but O'Shea will be looking for Magic Hurricane to be running on.

"He probably won't be effective at this trip against some very good horses, but we'll be happy to see him come through it well," he said.

Hauraki (John O'Shea/Sam Clipperton) is a G2 winner who ran his best race at this time last year when second in the G1 Australian Derby.

He raced well without luck in the Spring when second to stablemate Complacent in the G3 Craven Plate before a creditable eighth in the G1 Caulfield Cup.

Like Magic Hurricane, he will be at his best over more ground.

"He's run a couple of nice trials, but he'll probably be looking for longer," O'Shea said.