Pippi’s Pride will chase a fourth successive win when he jumps at Canterbury on Friday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Muswellbrook gelding, an eight-year-old son of Beautiful Crown, has reeled off three successive wins at his home track, winning the Denman, Kayuga and Sandy Hollow Cups at Skellatar Park.
On Friday night he tackles the $50,000 The Agency Projects Benchmark 72 Handicap (1550m) with Mikayla Weir to ride. She will claim three kilograms off his 59kgs and they will go from barrier five.
“He looks really well,” Stephen Gleeson said.
“He’s held his weight extremely well this prep. That’s been a big plus but probably because he hasn’t had to travel. If the track stays good he’ll run his usual honest race.”
READ ALSO:
Pippi’s Pride has been a consistent trier for his Muswellbrook trainer, winning 10 of his 62 starts and placing another 15 times.
He will break the $200,000 prizemoney barrier if he runs first, second or third after earning $195,315 in for his syndicate of owners, which also includes Gleeson.
Pippi’s Pride has been a marvellous galloper for the stable.
He won his maiden at Muswellbrook back in 2013 and is going stronger than ever with his trio of Cup wins of late.
Back in 2015 he also won the Merriwa and Gunnedah Cups in successive starts and then added a Dubbo Christmas Cup at the end of the year.
He’s also come close in some big races, finishing second and then third in the 2016 Walcha and Quirindi Cups. In 2017 he was the runner-up in the Gilgandra and Wellington Cups.
Friday night marks his 63rd race start. He is yet to win a metropolitan race in Sydney, finishing unplaced at Rosehill, Canterbury, Doomben and Eagle Farm the four times he has raced at those metro tracks.
“He’s come to life again,” Gleeson said.
“[He’s] helped the bank balance out a bit. We’ve been pretty lucky that we’ve been able to go bang, bang, bang at home and not had to travel.
“Everything has fallen into place for him. [I] wish he was at home again but this is a nice step up for him again.
“He’s been getting up in the benchmark ratings again. There’s nothing in the bush for him so this is a nice race, like a midweeker.”
The Canterbury outing could be his final run this campaign, as Gleeson is looking at a possible Muswellbrook Cup start in March for him.
“But we’d probably need to spell after tomorrow night,” he said.
“Want to give him a little break and then have him solid for the cup.”