Michael Hickmott Trains Listed Murray Bridge Gold Cup Trifecta

13 Oct 24

Dynamic Murray Bridge Trainer Michael Hickmott’s personal racing dream was realised by not only winning his first Murray Bridge Gold Cup LR 1600m but he trained a stunning trifecta and in the process smashed the Track Record when his horse Maracourt stopped the clock in 1:34.23R with a last 600m: 0:34.93.

Michael’s gallopers Maracourt (54.0kg) ($9.50) led home the trifecta with Dubai Poet (54.0kgs) ($3.30 Fav) 0.6 len second and Dynamic mare Alpine Flyer (54.0kgs) ($21) 1.9 lens third, and just for good measure Michael’s fourth runner, Riverplate, (54.0kg) ($17) finished 2.9 lens in fifth.

Maracourt storms to victory in the Murray Bridge Gold Cup, beating stablemates Dubai Poet and Alpine Flyer in a Michael Hickmott trifecta.

Champion Singapore jockey Manoel Nunes celebrated his recent move to South Australia with a brilliant ride to win, saying Maracourt gave him a “great ride’’.

An emotional Michael Hickmott said the cup result was a credit to his team and the support he has had.

An excited Michael Hickmott holds his daughter when speaking after the race

“This is just brilliant. The work we are all doing on the farm is paying off, to have a result like this is so special,’’ Michael said whose private facilities and stables are based on the outskirts of Murray Bridge.

“I am just so thrilled with that. I had the trifecta, that is so good.”

“The horse (Maracort) has been up for a while, been out in the paddocks and you can do so much with them. It’s a great set up. This is Boof’s (Maracourt) 14th run for the prep, he’s done so well.’’

Michael Hickmott also enjoyed the win of Fancify who set a track record 1:08.14R in race 6 a 1200m event, then erupted with joy when Motorace won the final event in a bob-of-the-head finish.

Michael Hickmott had gone agonisingly close to winning the Murray Bridge Gold Cup (1600m) in recent years, and this year’s quartet gave him a strong chance to snare that elusive win on Saturday and he achieved his dream.

Previously Lord Vladivostok had led the charge over the past three years, notching a hat-trick of placings without claiming the major prize so to trifecta this year’s renewal meant a lot.

Dynamic Syndications mare ALPINE FLYER finishes 3rd in Listed 1600m event

Michael Hickmott saddled up Maracourt, Dubai Poet, Alpine Flyer and Riverplate for this year's Listed feature, and the trainer clearly had the strongest hand in the race and that’s how the results fell.

Michael Hickmott said "It's a race that we've been devoid of luck in the last four years, we've had placegetters the last four years in it. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a source of minor frustration.

"Statistically I was as good a chance as any of winning the race, but these horses would need to turn up and run a peak figure on the day, and there's probably five to six horses outside of mine that are all capable of doing the same."

However, the astute young trainer showed his class and talent at preparing his horses to be at their best on the day.

Michael trains Dynamic Syndications mare ALPINE FLYER who finished third in the race 1.9 lengths from the leader, to complete the trifecta for the team. In doing so, she earned valuable bold-type for her pedigree page.

ALPINE FLYER won three starts ago at Morphettville

She carried 54.0kgs as a mare which was the same weight as the boys who were first and second, so her job was excellent considering she didn’t get her 2.0kg sex allowance in track record time.

ALPINE FLYER grows a leg when the rain falls but has found rock hard surfaces in this event and her previous race start in the Balaklava Cup. Her previous event she was galloped upon from behind mid-race and we were very close to having to retire the mare such was the seriousness of the injury, but excellent horse husbandry and management nursed our mare back from the brink and she repaid our faith by earning black-type.

ALPINE FLYER Career Summary: 23-7:2:4 & Prizemoney: $259,145
Good: 9:0-1-2 Soft: 13:6-1-2 Heavy: 1:1-0-0

Congratulations to our great mate Michael Hickmott and all his devoted team.