Our Big Mike Smokes Them in Pakenham Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday December 8

A long-range plan by New Zealand trainer Craig Phelan has paid off with Our Big Mike leading every step of the way in Saturday's $300,000 Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m).

Ridden by Jye McNeil, Our Big Mike kept up a relentless gallop to smash the course record by over 2 seconds to defeat Berisha (Al Samer) by two lengths with Dal Harraild (Champs Elysees) back in third.

A model of consistency in New Zealand, Our Big Mike earned a trip across the Tasman after a meritorious sixth in the Group 1 Livamol Classic at Hastings on June 10.

He finished third in the Kyneton Cup won by Another Coldie on November 7 then third again at Moonee Valley last Saturday.

The 6yo son of Don Eduardo advances his record to 7 wins, 3 seconds and 3 third from 24 starts with earnings of $301,069.

"That's something else," Phelan told Racing.com. "We thought we'd come over and target some country cups, but this is special.

"My son Shaun and his partner Emily (Farr) are jumps jockeys back home. They gave me a kick in the backside and said I had to get over here to chase the money.

Advertisement

"He keeps cruising at that same rate, all day.

"He was booked to go home on the plane on Tuesday, but we might have to leave him here a bit longer - the money over here is so great.

"We haven't thought any further than this, our heads are up in the clouds at the moment."

A half-brother to the Melbourne winner Oforawesome, Our Big Mike is out of the Felix The Cat mare Landvetter who was not covered in the five years after foaling Our Big Mike but was served by Jakkalberry (IRE) last spring.

Our Big Mike becomes the 11th stakes winner for Don Eduardo (Zabeel) who began his stud career at Fayette Park Stud before being transferred to Haunui Farm. He now stands in semi-retirement at his owner's Gooree Park Stud where he has covered just three mares in each of the past two seasons.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Spring Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
There was an interesting set of trials at Hawkesbury on Monday that featured heat winners including Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker as well as the Waterhouse Bott stable Cups contenders Sir Delius (GB) and Vauban (FR), plus we may have seen an Everest horse.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 25
Here is the full list of 12 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
No Everest for Sunshine in Paris - Retired to Stud
Disappointing news from Annabel and Rob Archibald on Tuesday with an announcement that the stable’s star sprinter Sunshine in Paris has sustained an injury in trackwork and will be  retired.
First Southern Hemisphere foals for Paddington
A four-time Group I winner by champion French sire Siyouni, European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park.
Was it that Unusual? Who is the Oldest?
There was a lot of attention in the media regarding the age of Australian Horse of the Year elect Via Sistina (IRE) when she returned to racing for a new campaign at Randwick last Saturday, but was it really that uncommon to see an eight year-old G1 winner?
Spring Plans for El Vencedor
New Zealand’s top-rated performer El Vencedor will contest all three legs of the spring Triple Crown series.
Commemorative Retired to Stud
Watching the progress of Godolphin horses as they start stepping our for their new trainers has been interesting to say the least and will get more so this weekend when we see Tom Kitten go around in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, but one horse we won’t be seeing again is Commemorative.
Coolmore Stallion Parade – A to Z-Catch Up on What You Might Have Missed!
The annual Coolmore Australia stallion parade is one you just can’t miss and if you didn’t make it this year, do read on as you will feel like you were there after all!
Well Bred Zousain Debut Winner
A full sister to Zousain’s Group III winning filly Drifting, Cheeky Contiki made a winning debut at Pakenham on Monday for the Lindsay Park Racing team.
Finding the Perfect Match for Your Mare
Now that the first foals of the season have hit the ground at farms across the country, breeders are finalising stallion bookings and searching for the perfect match for their mares.