Wellington trainer Michael Hickmott wins his first Gold Cup
One of Murray Bridge's most prestigious horse races has been won by a hometown trainer.
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Winning one of Murray Bridge’s most prestigious races is a dream for every local trainer, and Michael Hickmott has done it in style.
His runners finished one-two-three in Saturday’s Gold Cup, with Singaporean jockey Manoel Nunes taking the win aboard Maracourt.
Hickmott also had Dubai Poet in second, Alpine Flyer in third and Riverplate in fifth, netting a total of more than $100,000 worth of winnings for their owners.
Maracourt’s journey to the cup had been a tough one at times, he suggested, but his owners’ persistence had paid off.
After coming into the Hickmott stable last summer, the horse had recorded three wins in his past four starts.
Hickmott thanked the crowd, the owners, the jockey, his family and friends, and “every single person back at the farm … from the ground staff to the riders”.
He also threw in a quick “carn the Bluds”.
The Gold Cup win capped a successful day for Hickmott and his team.
He had two other winners on the day: Fancify in race six and Motorace in race 10.
He was not the only local trainer to taste success on Gold Cup day, either – Gary and Dean Alexander won with Angelic Appeal earlier in the afternoon.
Hickmott has become a force in South Australian racing since purchasing Lakewood Stud at Wellington four years ago.
He became the first Murray Bridge trainer to win SA’s metropolitan premiership in 2021.
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