Stayer chasing further cup honours

Motorboat Mike looks week-placed at Riverton on Saturday to add to his collection of silverware.

Motorboat Mike winning the Sheet M'craft Invercargill Cup Picture: Wild Range Photography

The seven-year-old is in career best form with wins in the Invercargill Gold Cup and the Gore Cup to his credit this season and he is showing no signs of training off.

“He has been working up really well and coming through his races better than he ever has,” trainer Sophie Price said.

Motorboat Mike will be reunited with Racha Cuneen, who was aboard in both cup victories, in the Listed Carriers Arms Hotel Riverton Cup, in which they will carry 59.5kg.

“It’s a little bit of a concern and he has to give quite a bit of weight away to those on the minimum, but in saying that he carried 59kg to win the Invercargill Cup so he should cope okay,” Price said.

“There’s been a bit of rain around and that won’t worry him – it’s only when it gets really heavy that he doesn’t like it.

“It’s only a 30 minute trip down the road for us and he went well there last year.”

The Perfectly Ready gelding finished runner-up on both days of the Riverton Easter carnival 12 months ago.

While Motorboat Mike is showing no ill effects of a lengthy campaign, his performance on Saturday will determine his immediate future.

“We’re just going race by race and if he could win then we’ll possibly take him to Riccarton on April 16, otherwise he could go out for a wee spell,” Price said.


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