Local trainer sticks to superstitions in victory bid

TOWNSVILLE Cup training hopeful Alby Molino is as superstitious as they come in the racing game.

When he was a jockey his race-day ritual was either a haircut or a burger, maybe both, and it worked a treat for the lightweight in a career spanning 29 years and more than 800 wins.

As the trainer of leading Cup contender and Mackay Cup winner Best Hoffa, the key for the Molino stable is to change nothing, not even the order the horses go on the float.

Molino, one of the nice blokes of racing, will have his first Cup starter in Best Hoffa, and may have a second with Guangzhou who is named as the first emergency for the big race.

At his Cluden stables this week an upbeat Molino said he couldn’t be happier with both horses going into today’s feature, especially Best Hoffa.

“You don’t count your chickens too soon in this game, but he’s a really good chance if everything goes right,” Molino said. “I didn’t think he’d go away from them like that in Mackay. Pietro (Romeo) couldn’t have ridden him any better. He suits him because he’s aggressive and he keeps him going.

“The horse is fit and I think he’s got the ability, we just need to have the luck in running and get a good position early.

“But don’t worry Guangzhou is a good lightweight chance if he gets a run.

“He’s coming good at the right time and I just hope he makes the field.

Best Hoffa wears the colours of the North’s biggest owner, Tom Hedley, and was transferred to Molino a year ago on the advice of previous trainer Roy Chillemi.

Guangzhou races same interests and later.

Molino said he wanted to target last year’s Cup but those plans were put on hold after Best Hoffa was injured after placing fifth in last year’s Mackay Cup.

“It took a fair while to get him right but he had a good spell and he’s been great ever since,” Molino said. in the came

“He won twice and was placed seven times in 11 starts before he won the Mackay Cup. That win was important because it lifted his rating and guaranteed a start in the Townsville Cup.”

The Mackay Cup win was the biggest victory yet for Molino and his wife Julie, but a home town win in the Townsville Cup will be something else.

Best Hoffa will carry 57kg in the Cup and has been drawn to jump from barrier 10 but could come in further with emergencies likely to be scratched.