Seventh Hunter Cup win

Courageous gelding Mah Sish gave reinsman Anthony Butt his seventh Hunter Cup success in Melbourne on Saturday night.

Mah Sish was in outstanding form, setting the pace and withstanding challenges to hold on by a head from former Southlander Jaccka Clive in the $400,000 Group 1 at Melton.

‘‘We couldn’t get in early, so we worked to the lead,’’ Butt said. ‘‘There was constant pressure throughout and, when I pulled the plugs at the 400m, I wasn’t confident at all.

‘‘Round the turn we were battling, but so were the others. He just kept going.’’

Butt’s other Hunter Cup wins have been with Choise Achiever (last year), Stunin Cullen (2011), Mr Feelgood (2009), Mister D G (2004) and Blossom Lady (1994-95).

His brother Tim, who has stables in Christchurch and Melbourne, trains Mah Sish and Choise Achiever and earlier prepared Stunin Cullen, Mr Feelgood and Mister D G.

Mah Sish will be flown to Sydney on Thursday to prepare for a heat of the Interdominions at Menangle on Saturday week. The $750,000 Interdominion Grand Final is held on March 3.

Tim Butt said the final could be Mah Sish’s last race for the season.

‘‘There’s the Auckland Cup (March 8) and Miracle Mile (April 28) coming up, but I’m pretty happy where we’re at with him and I don’t want to bottom him out,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Ohoka Punter, trained and driven by south Auckland horseman Tony Herlihy and owned in North Canterbury by Katie Carville, won the $200,000 Victoria Derby on Saturday night.

Mark Purdon’s two winners at Melton on Saturday were My Escapee (Gp 3 Melton Trotters’ Cup) and Smolda ($25,000 FFA).

Purdon and Dr Hook went under by a halfhead in the Group 1 Australasian Trotting Championship Final.

Dr Hook, three wide early before leading, was beaten by Mister Zion, a dual-gaited gelding.