Complete 2017 Mackay Cup Form Guide

The 2017 Mackay Cup Form Guide is essential reading for punters and racing fans ahead of the featured country race in Queensland on Saturday afternoon.

Deconstructed will take his place in Saturday's Mackay Cup field. Photo: Daniel Costello

Deconstructed will take his place in Saturday’s Mackay Cup field. Photo: Daniel Costello

Some of the best provincial and country horses that Queensland has to offer will be on show in the 2017 Mackay Cup field and we have analysed every runner in detail, in order to help you find the race winner.

Craiglea Deken is seeking a seventh-consecutive race win and is the horse to beat in the Mackay Cup field, but is sure to face plenty of resistance from the likes of Palace Tycoon, Chivadahlii and Old Smokey.

Craiglea Deken

Craiglea Deken is undoubtedly the class runner of the 2017 Mackay Cup field and he should prove extremely tough to beat in the country feature on Saturday afternoon. Having finished second behind Blue Jest in the 4MK Handicap (1560m) at Mackay on March 14th, the Longhorn gelding has since won each of his six most-recent starts, including the HL Black Memorial WFA (1560m) at Mackay last time out on June 15th. The horse has been charged with carrying a heavy weight, but he is drawn to find a good position in transit from barrier 8 and is the horse to beat in the Mackay Cup.

Deconstructed

Deconstructed has produced several competitive performances and results this time, but undoubtedly faces a step up in class into the Mackay Cup field. Second in the Rocky Amateurs Cup (1600m) on May 13th, the Street Cry gelding was unable to match it in the final straight at Rockhampton when seventh in the Tattersall’s Gold Cup (1600m), but ran on well to finish fourth in the Rockhampton Cup last weekend. The horse is drawn to get an ideal run in transit from barrier 4.

Mamselle Corday

Mamselle Corday has only continued to improve this time in and she is not without a hope of walking away the 2017 Mackay Cup winner. The daughter of Masked Assassin ran fourth in the Rocky Amateurs Cup on May 13th and has since gone extremely close in both the Rockhampton VW Financial Handicap (1400m) and the Tatt’s Gold Cup. She has only had two career starts at Mackay for a first and a second and she will be given every chance in the Mackay Cup with only 54kgs in tow.

Fastnet Flyer

Fastnet Flyer is a consistent six-year-old and is another horse who appears set to peak when he takes his position in the Mackay Cup field. Third at Emerald first-up on April 29th, the Husson gelding failed to beat a single runner home in the Rocky Amateurs Cup following a tough run on pace, but has since finished second in an Open Handicap over a mile at Emerald and in the HL Black Memorial WFA a fortnight ago. The horse’s front-running style should suit the Mackay course once more on Saturday and he a legitimate each-way chance.

Chivadahlii

Journeyman Chivadahlii has a class edge on much of the Mackay Cup field and should carry plenty of benefit into the race. Formerly saddled by Darren Weir in Victoria before a preparation for Brian Smith in Brisbane, the Nothin’ Leica Dane gelding was settled at the tail of the field in the Tattersall’s Gold Cup at Rockhampton on June 10th and flew home to finish fourth. He’ll appreciate a step up in distance and is a live chance in Mackay Cup betting markets.

Walhaan

Walhaan has produced several strong performances amongst stronger company than this previously and is another horse who should take plenty of benefit into the Mackay Cup. Sent to the paddock after failing to fire in an Eagle Farm race over 2200m in February, the Excellent Art gelding ran sixth in the HL Black Memorial WFA first-up; finishing three lengths off the pace set by Craiglea Deken. Whether or not he can improve that much remains to be seen.

Old Smokey

Consistent galloper Old Smokey has posted a number of typically smart results this time and should again be right in the finish of the Mackay Cup, with appropriate luck in transit. Winner of the Kordamentha Winter Provincial BM70 (1300m) in his first start for Trinity Bannon on May 25th, the Natural Destiny gelding ran a pleasing second in the Tattersall’s Gold Cup before another credible performance for third in the HL Black Memorial WFA. Jockey Quayde Krogh has plenty of options from barrier 9 and the horse will relish running with a light weight.

Knowing Me

Local runner Knowing Me failed to justify his favouritism when third in a weight-for-age race at Laura last week, but should relish a 5kgs relief this week and a step up in distance. Running on for a pleasing third in the Mt Isa Cup (1700m) after a tough run on June 3rd, the Savabeel gelding returned to Mackay for fifth in the HL Black Memorial WFA, in what was his only other start prior to running at Laura. He’d have to improve greatly, but is not incapable of doing so.

Bentles

Bentles maps well in a race like this, but he has been out of form all preparation and probably faces too great a task in being crowned the Mackay Cup winner on Saturday. Having taken up the running in the Tattersall’s Gold Cup before fading late for fifth, the Onemorenomore gelding failed to beat a single runner home in the Central Park Motel Plate (1600m) last time out on June 22nd.

Palace Tycoon

Palace Tycoon was excellent at Rockhampton last week and is a real chance of winning the Rockhampton Cup, should he repeat that performance. A smart winner at Toowoomba on May 6th, the Testa Rossa gelding finished sixth in both the Infield DJ Festival Handicap (1540m) and the Tattersall’s Gold Cup. Taking up the running and powering to the line in the Central Park Motel Plate last week, Palace Tycoon is drawn to get an ideal run in transit from barrier 6 and will be tough to beat with 54kgs in tow.

Try Me Dol

Try Me Dol is undefeated since joining the stables of Mackay trainer Tracy Simmons, but she does face a clear step up in class this weekend. Steadily building to the task when under the care of Stephen Potiris in autumn, the Mail Train mare beat serveral notable runners by more than three lengths in the Savage, Barker Backhouse BM70 (1804m) last time out on June 17th.

Doubos

The final runners confirmed in the 2017 Mackay Cup field, Doubos has been another strong and consistent performer this time and is an outside chance of winning the feature race. A strong and consistent performer on the Mackay course previously, Doubos failed to finish off the Ulton Plate (1400m) at Rockhampton after a tough run on speed on June 10th, but responded well to finish third in the Savage, Barker Backhouse BM70 last time out.

About The Author

Jared Timms

Jared graduated with a journalism degree in 2011. He is a keen sports fan and has enjoyed many accolades for his lively writing style and comprehensive coverage of major sporting events and horse racing. Today, you can find Jared cheering on his beloved Manchester City with a beer in hand.