McMahon cuts it fine

Jockey Ric McMahon was fined for being late to the track but timed his run to perfection on Cambridge veteran Military Move to win the A$100,000 ($109,000) Toowoomba Cup on Sunday.

Now a 7-year-old, Military Move won the 2010 New Zealand Derby and then had two seasons in Hong Kong where he won the 2011 group one Golden Jubilee Challenge for trainer John Moore. He was returned to his original trainer, Shaune Ritchie, a year ago and won the Manawatu Cup last December.

Ritchie then decided to head to Queensland for the winter to try to get another stakes win with the gelding and he succeeded on Sunday.

McMahon was fined A$100 when he was delayed getting to the track to take his ride in the first race but his timing was spot-on when he brought Military Move ($5.50) from near the tail of the field coming up the hill into the straight.

McMahon worked him to the outside and Military Move charged home to nail Carn ($12) by a half head on the line.

Ritchie said Military Move could run in the Tattersall’s Cup and Caloundra Cup later in the carnival.

“We have had a couple of placings with our 3-year-olds here so it was good to get a win,” Ritchie said.

“One thing is he has been to Hong Kong back to New Zealand and then to Brisbane. The trip to Toowoomba wasn’t going to worry him.”

Military Move carried 59.5kg, 51⁄ more than the runner-up.