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Hansen eyeing return trip with Magic Wu

16 July 2019

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By Glenn Davis

Rockhampton trainer Kevin Hansen is hopeful Magic Wu can make a big enough impression in his Sunshine Coast debut on Wednesday to warrant a return trip for better races later this year.

Hansen will test the waters with Magic Wu, a winner of two of his past three Rockhampton starts, in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1400m).

Sydney’s Gerald Ryan was the original trainer of Magic Wu who won his debut in a Maiden Plate at Goulburn a year ago before failing to win in another six appearances for the Rosehill trainer.

The son of Magic Albert subsequently was bought at a tried horse sale and has won two of his only three starts for Hansen.

Hansen produced Magic Wu to win at his first start for the stable in a Class One at Rockhampton in May before finishing second in a Class Two at the same venue on June 21.

Magic Wu made amends at his last start and showed a liking for a heavy track when he notched up his third win  in a Benchmark race at Rockhampton on July 6.

“We got him at a tried sale off Gerald Ryan after he had seven starts for one win,” Hansen said.

“I think this is an ideal race for him and it’ll give me a good guide whether he’s up to the grade and worth sending back to Brisbane after he comes back from a spell.

“Eventually, I’d love to send him back there for a race in town.”

Hansen intends to spell Magic Wu at Karalee Park in the Sunshine Coast hinterland after his Sunshine Coast start.

“It’s pretty dry back home and the tracks have been fairly hard so I decided to send him down for this race and then spell him down there,” he said.

“At Karalee Park he can go on the water walker which we don’t have back home.

“That will help take the pressure off his legs early in his pre-training.”

Jockey Leslie Tilley had ridden Magic Wu in all his three Rockhampton starts and has retained the ride.

Racing Queensland webnews    July 16