Sport
19 January, 2026
Close competition at Malanda Cup
RACING was at its finest at the Malanda Cup at the weekend, with just 0.28 seconds separating the top three finishers in the big race.
All honours went to trainer Matey Taylor in the 1000m Open Handicap, with horse Bella Bianca – ridden by Nor Yadi – edging out the favourite, Recruiter, to claim the $6,800 first place prize by a margin of 0.27s. Sharlee Hoffman’s Crystal Chief ran third – just 0.01s behind second place.
Race 4 saw a tightly contested 1000m Tom English Memorial Benchmark 58 Handicap, but it was local trainer Alex Malliff’s Gamadale Nip who took out first place with the help of jockey Tilly McCarroll.
Trevor and Peter Rowe’s Geraldine’s Wish proved too strong in Race 3s 1000m Maiden, while Malliff’s Lichfield Angel claimed second, and Steven Royes’ Secret Scout came in third.
The Rowe’s had plenty to celebrate at the weekend, with their horse Desert Grit also finding a win in Race 2 – narrowly edging out Malliff’s Laser Beam by 0.02s. While Race 1 was taken out by Bonnie Thomson’s Look At Rosa.
