By Glenn Davis
Mareeba trainer Alex Malliff begins his quest to gain two spots in the $200,000 Country Cups Challenge Final in December with a two-pronged attack at Atherton on Saturday.
Malliff will launch his bold bid for the 1600-metre final at Doomben with Love On Sunday and Devil Kick in the Atherton Cup which is a qualifying leg for the Country Cups Challenge Final on December 6.
Malliff can’t separate his pair but is confident one of them can give him his first Atherton Cup.
“I can’t separate them and I’ll be scratching my head right up to start time trying to choose between them,” Malliff said.
Eight-year-old Love On Sunday has been a goldmine for the former plumber winning more than $156,000 in prizemoney.
“He’s been a great buy after I got him for $5,000 at an Inglis online auction and he’s now won 10 races for us,” Malliff said.
Love On Sunday almost gave Malliff his first Atherton Cup three years ago when he finished second to the Janel Ryan-trained Fast Train.
“It was his first time over 2000 metres that year,” Malliff said.
“He’s older and a lot stronger now and he’s more of a Cups horse these days.”