PIPPI’S Pride is chasing a fourth successive victory at Canterbury on Friday night.
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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.
He now tackles the $50,000 The Agency Projects Benchmark 72 Handicap (1550m) with Mikayla Weir to ride.
She’ll claim three kilograms off his 59kg and they will go from barrier five.
“He looks really well,” trainer 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.”
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 for his syndicate, 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 won the Merriwa and Gunnedah Cups in successive starts and then added a Dubbo Christmas Cup at the end of the year as well.
He’s also come close in some big races, too, finishing second and then third in the 2016 Walcha and Quirindi Cups.
In 2017 he was a runner-up in the Gilgandra and Wellington Cups as well.
On Friday night, he has 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 competed at those metro tracks.
“He’s come to life again,” Gleeson added.
“It’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.
“Wish he was at home again but this is a nice step up for him.
“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 mid-weeker.”
It could also be his final run this time in as Gleeson is looking at a possible Muswellbrook Cup start in March with him.
“But we’d probably need to spell after tomorrow night,” he said.
“I want to give him a little break and then have him solid for the Cup.”