Pride Shoulders Weight Burden in MM Country Cup Campaign

Classy Bowen sprinter Northern Pride will launch another crack at Magic Millions riches at Cluden Park on Sunday.

Northern Pride will be forced to lump topweight of 63.5kg in the weekend’s MM Country Cup Qualifier (1200m) after striking a purple patch of form with three wins from his past five starts.

But the 2023 Cleveland Bay Hcp winner’s high rating virtually guarantees him a start in the $500,000 MM Country Cup at the Gold Coast on January 17 win, lose or draw and a chance to improve on his sixth in last year’s big race on a wet track.

Trainer Tom Button is still expecting the six-year-old to make his presence felt on the weekend despite giving away a big weight advantage to the smart Obligated, Rockhampton mare Cherry Rose, and the resuming Tambo’s Justice.

“He’s got Aidan (Holt) on him again and he really runs for him so that’s a bonus. Weight wise we’ve just got to cop what we get at this time of year I suppose. It’s been scaled down a couple of kilos which is probably pretty lucky because 63.5kg is enough,” Button said.

“He’s drawn well in seven, he’s going super so I’m pretty hopeful.

“At this stage he’ll go down for the MM Country Cup and that will be his last run this prep and I’ll probably spell him down there.

“That’s the rough plan all going well.

“He didn’t run a bad race at the Gold Coast last year. It was wet and he doesn’t like those sorts of tracks but he still ran alright and was beaten three or four lengths.

“I think he’s going better this year. Even though he’s well into his prep his form is faultless really.

“Aidan knows the horse now and he’s just got a knack with him. He’s put in a really good run every time he’s ridden him.

“I think he’ll try hard and be competitive. I’m sure from the barrier he’ll get his chance.”

Button will also saddle up promising youngster Bang Stick in the Great Northern Brewing Co. 3YO Hcp (1000m) against the flying Satisfied Mugs.

The two smart geldings will clash for the first time since placing behind boom filly Sheza Alibi in the Townsville 2YO Classic over 1200m at Cluden in June.

Satisfied Mugs has won his two starts back from a spell in blistering fashion in Cairns while Bang Stick resumed with an unlucky second in Rockhampton earlier this month.

Button has a big wrap on Bang Stick but expects Satisfied Mugs to be too slick over the 1000m on Sunday.

“Bang Stick was a late nom. I’m still going to the 1400m next week but I decided to give him this run. It was going to be four weeks between runs otherwise,” Button said.

“I think he’ll handle any cut out of the ground if it rains but I think he’ll be giving Satisfied Mugs a big start and he might be too sharp over the trip.

“Bank Stick is a very nice horse but I think he’ll be at his best over 1400m and a mile.

“It’s crazy to think that both my bloke and Satisfied Mugs ran into Sheza Alibi in the Classic in Townsville six months ago. She’s now a Group 2 winner in Melbourne and I heard they’re going to have a crack at a Group 1 with her.”

Sunday’s eight race meeting kicks off at 12.50pm