Talented pacer Im Corzin Terror will be chasing a second straight Maryborough Gold Cup success on Sunday.
The two horses that captured the Maryborough pacers’ and trotters’ cups in 2013 will return to the venue on Sunday in search of back-to-back glory.
Eight-year-old squaregaiter Michael Thomas is chasing a second successive Avoca-Maryborough Community Bank Branches Maryborough Trotters Cup, while seven-year-old Im Corzin Terror will be out for consecutive Central Goldfields Shire Maryborough Gold Cup wins.
Lisa Miles trained Michael Thomas led all the way to win last year’s trotters’ cup, the son of Malabar Maple holding off Paparazzi Snapshot comfortably in the 2690-metre event.
This time around Miles has Michael Thomas fresh from a 10-month spell and a 10-metre handicap to overcome.
Kari Males trained Tsonga is the only other runner not off the front, starting alongside Michael Thomas from the 10-metre strand.
Brent Lilley trained Kvintet Avenger should be one of the hardest to beat in the trotters’ cup, having impressed since arriving in Australia with four wins from five starts – including a 2.7-metre victory last time out in the Swan Hill Trotters Cup.
The Maryborough Gold Cup for pacers has attracted a field of 12 plus one emergency and Im Corzin Terror has been placed behind the 20-metre tape as the lone backmarker.
Other country cups regulars Uncle Wingnut and Jaccka Clive will both start off 10 metres, the same mark given to Michael Stanley’s Hilltop Hustler, while Amanda Turnbull trained-and-driven five-year-old Itdontmattertome has drawn pole (should the emergency Jack In Flight not gain a start).
Turnbull will also have Highview Conall in the race (gate six) with Nathan Jack in the sulky behind it.
The all-conquering Emma Stewart stable will line up Hes Kinky and Goodtime Mike in the Gold Cup, David Moran to steer Hes Kinky and champion reinsman Chris Alford engaged to pilot Goodtime Mike.
The powerful Lance Justice yard will line up two runners in the Gold Cup, with Im Barney Rubble and Machin Out starting from gates eight and nine.
Other pacing cup runners are Cut For An Ace (gate three, Geoff Webster) and Road To Rock (Keith Cotchin trained and Kerryn Manning driven from gate four).
The cup meeting is part of Harness Racing Victoria’s 2014-15 TAB.com.au Trots Country Cups Carnival and patrons will get the chance to win a $1000 TAB voucher by simply uploading a selfie from the track on to HRV’s Trots Selfies page (www.facebook.com/trotselfies).
The club will also offer double-seater sulky rides between races.
