SOUTH Australian trainer Michael Hickmott has a two-pronged attack in the $100,000 bet365 Mildura Cup at Sandilong Park today with his talented gallopers Dubai Poet and Maracourt.
Dubai Poet is an imported Great Britain galloper who came to Australia in 2023 to join the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable at Mornington. He recorded his first Australian win at Sandown at his second start for the stable.
Dubai Poet had a further five runs for the Freedman stable and then transferred across to trainer Michael Hickmott at Wellington in South Australia.
The six-year-old has settled in well at his new surroundings as he won the Listed Christmas Handicap last year as well as finishing second in both the Murray Bridge and Balaklava Cups.
Michael Hickmott’s nephew Josh joined the stable a couple of years ago and is looking forward to the Mildura Cup with their two runners.
“They are two really good chances in the Cup as both of them are training really well and it is the first time we have had runners in the race,” Josh Hickmott said.
Dubai Poet was purchased for $70,000 on the Inglis Digital Online sale and he has repaid the faith of his new owners.
“It was money well spent and his new owners are having a great time with him.” Hickmott said.
Dubai Poet has had one run this preparation when he finished third in the Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool in May behind the winner Dashing who has since gone on to win the Swan Hill Cup.
“He races best when he has his races spaced and his run in the Wangoom was a super effort as he didn’t handle the sticky track,” Hickmott said.
“He will enjoy racing in the Mildura Cup on good-rated track and will give it a big shake.”
The stablemate Maracourt is aiming for another Cup success after winning the Murray Bridge Cup in October last year.
“He is a consistent horse who gets back in his races and if there is plenty of speed on, he will be getting home well at the finish,” Hickmott said.
Another South Australian visitor in Rubamos will also be a leading contender in the Cup for the Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor stable at Angaston.
Rubamos has achieved eight wins from 40 outings and is the topweight in the Cup with 58.5kgs. He will be ridden by SA apprentice Taylor Johnstone.
Aaron Bain is confident his seven-year-old is ready to run a big race in the Cup.
“I made the Mildura Cup one of his main targets after a top win at Oakbank in April and the 1400-metre cup journey is his pet distance so he will run well again,” Bain said.
Trainer Patrick Payne has won three of the past six Mildura Cups after Husson Eagle recorded back-to-back wins in 2018-19 and Jimmy The Bear was an impressive winner last year.
Payne joined forces with his sister Michelle in their training partnership this season and the stable is one of the in-form Victorian stables over recent months.
The partnership will be looking to take out this year’s Mildura Cup with the talented five-year-old Hard To Cross who has had two fitness gathering runs in quality class races at Caulfield and Flemington recently so should be ready to run an improved race here today.
Another highlight on the program will be the Trentham Estate Golden Goblet BM70 Handicap. Swan Hill trainer Austy Coffey will line-up the recent Echuca winner Excel And Fly who is facing a big drop back in class today after contesting the Swan Hill Cup on June 8.
The first of eight races on the program is the bet365 Never Ordinary Maiden Plate to be run at 1pm and it is a suitable race for the Sarah Rutten trained three-year-old Jewels Captain to be able to bring up his first career win.
There will be plenty of action off the racetrack as well with more than $4000 in prizes up for grabs with the Fashions on the Field as well as live music to entertain the patrons throughout the afternoon.
Big Screens will be on track to view the racing action, while there will be a host of kid’s activities with the jumping castle, face painting and pony rides.
The TAC courtesy buses will provide free travel to and from the course today.
Route 1: Buses will depart from Mildura Central at 11:30am, 11:50am and 12:20pm stopping at all bus stops along Deakin Avenue to Jackies Corner and then enroute to the racecourse. Return buses will depart at 5pm, 5:20pm,5:40pm, 6pm and 6:20pm.
Route 2: Bus will depart the Gol Gol Hotel at 11:20am stopping at the Buronga Post Office 11:30am, Mildura Gateway Tavern 11.45am and Irymple Hotel at 12 noon. It will then arrive at the racecourse at 12:15pm. The return bus will depart at 5.20pm.
The gates will open at 11am today.
Following today’s Cup meeting the bet365 Mildura Racing Club will continue its two-day carnival with the Family Day at the races tomorrow afternoon.
SELECTIONS
1: Jewels Captain (3), Territorian (5), Il Cielo (2), Shujinko (4)
2: Tosen Snowfall (9), Tosen Impact (6), Mrs Harris (8), Alpine Honey (2)
3: Moaksun (3), Petit Eagle (7), Machinegun Mike (2), Dolce D’Amour (5)
4: Neon’s Last (1), Cripps (5), Demojo (2), Lift The Bar (8)
5: Dobbinair (1), Stokomo (6), Wats Normal (4), Chosen Venture (3)
6: Excel And Fly (2), Kova (5), Dyer (4), Reward The Sheriff (8)
7: Dubai Poet (2), Rubamos (1), Maracourt (8), Favourite Child (5)
8: Make It Sweet (4), Magnetic Edge (1), Oxford Blue (6), Capulet (5)
Best Bet: R5: Dobbinair. Best Value: R6: Excel And Fly.
