Nominations for the major support acts on next month’s Gold Coast Magic Millions Race Day are now out including 52 entries taken for the Magic Millions Cup 2017.

Reigning champ Lucky Hussler heads the 2017 Magic Millions Cup nominations for January 14 at the Gold Coast. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

Nine restricted features run at the Gold Coast Racecourse on January 14 across the $10 million meeting including the $1 million Woodford Reserve Magic Millions Cup (1400m).

The Restricted Listed showdown is shaping up as a top edition with a host of talented nominees including the reigning Magic Millions Cup winner Lucky Hussler.

The Darren Weir-trained son of Husson won the race first-up last summer carrying 60.5kg and won his first race since on November 12 at Sandown in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m).

Weir is tossing up whether to run the now seven-year-old fresh in the Magic Millions Cup field again in 2017 or give him a lead-up race this Sunday in the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

Also among the Magic Millions Cup 2017 nominations for Weir is the flying Kenjorwood.

A fellow seven-year-old, the in-form son of Snippetson enjoyed his second win on the trot on Boxing Day at Caulfield taking out the Listed Lord Stakes (1700m) under a hefty 60kg.

Of the Queenslanders one of the likely Magic Millions Cup favourites after his stellar summer campaign is the Tony Gollan-trained Most Important.

The four-year-old I Am Invincible gelding won the Group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m) by nearly three lengths at Eagle Farm before beating home Too Good To Refuse in the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on December 17.

Gollan won the Magic Millions Cup back in 2012 with Spirit Of Boom and chases another victory this season with Most Important who has his final lead-up at Eagle Farm on Saturday in the $150,000 Buffering Quality Handicap (1300m).

The Buffering Quality is a “wildcard” race for the Magic Millions Cup, offering the winner an automatic start in the lucrative January event.

Looking for that ballot free ride into the Gold Coast Magic Millions Cup is the Desleigh Forster-trained Too Good To Refuse who is out to turn the tables on his last start conqueror Most Important.

Plenty of smart interstate raiders feature in this summer’s Magic Millions Cup entries including the Team Hawkes-trained Snoopy and the ultra-consistent Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Choice We Had.

Team Snowden also have Hand From Above, Snippets Land and We’re Sure entered for the race.

Runner-up in the Magic Millions Cup for the past two years, the now Chris Waller-trained Strawberry Boy is back looking for another shot at the title.

The eight-year-old hasn’t raced since his eighth in May’s Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast however and so is far from confirmed for a run.

The 2015 Magic Millions Cup third placegetter The Bowler is also in the mix two seasons on for Caulfield’s Robert Smerdon.

Other notable nominees include the Kelly Schweida-trained Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara winner Miss Cover Girl, Liam Birchley’s four-year-old daughter of Court Command Pepperano and the Pat Duff-trained veteran nine-year-old Steel Zip.

Check out the full Gold Coast Magic Millions Cup 2017 nominations below, the final field of acceptances out on Wednesday January 17 followed by betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.

2017 Magic Millions Cup Nominations

Gold Coast Racecourse – 14/01/2017