Emerging Mareeba gelding claims career best win
Mareeba gelding Paniagua burst through the field to claim the biggest prize of his career at Mackay on Friday. And, a Cairns-owned stayer has bolted in to claim the 2020 Mackay Cup.
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Mareeba gelding Paniagua burst through the field to claim the biggest prize of his career at Mackay on Friday afternoon.
Trained by Alex Malliff, Paniagua scored in the Mackay Magic Millions Whitsunday 3YO Guineas (1560m) in dominant fashion on Mackay Cup Day.
Just a $600 purchase by an array of NQ-based owners, Paniagua won $19,800, plus the QTIS bonuses, on Friday, to go along with the $38,850 already earned in his young career. Friday’s striking victory was his fourth in a row.
It was a stunning ride by Townsville hoop Scott Sheargold to get the gelding home.
He went back from a wide-ish gate before weaving his way through the field to win strongly on the line.
Sheargold even had time to pose for the photo as he knew he had the triumph in the bag well out from the winning post.
Earlier this month, Malliff said Paniagua, who is locally owned, had improved by five lengths over the last few months.
The stable had set their emerging three-year-old for Guineas for some time and were rewarded for their plan on Friday afternoon.
“I have total faith in Alex and his wife Kellie, they know the horse best and if they think he is up for the challenge on Friday then I trust their decision as so far they have made all the right ones,” part-owner Mel Johnstone said pre-race.
Stablemate to Paniagua, Ruler, ran fourth in the next race at Mackay.
Mareeba’s Malliff also trained Paniagua’s full brother Terrasaurus, who was just a $600 purchase online from Toowoomba.
Paniagua scored by 1.5 lengths in the end.
The Cairns-trained Southern Swing finished fourth in the Mackay Magic Millions Whitsunday 3YO Guineas behind the FNQ winner.
Later in the day, the Cairns-owned Best Hoffa bolted in to claim the 2020 Mackay Cup in arrogant fashion.
Ridden aggressively by Pietro Romeo from the home turn over 2000m, Best Hoffa never looked like being beaten in the straight.
Best Hoffa is trained by Alby Molino out of Townsville and owned by Cairns Jockey Club president Tom Hedley.
Hoop Romeo was confident pre-race he could win and his thoughts were backed up.
Meanwhile, last-start winner Scaramouche will have his first run for the Nicole Homann stable at Tolga on Saturday.
The four-year-old had been in the yard of John Manzelmann and Ricky Ludwig over the last few months but has recently been sold to Tablelands trainer Homann.
Scaramouche broke his maiden status at Tolga in July and is well placed to collect his second win of his career in the Benchmark 45 Handicap (1100m) on Saturday.
There is a five-event non-TAB program set to be run at Atherton Turf Club on Saturday.
Originally published as Emerging Mareeba gelding claims career best win