Micallef adds another country cup feature to his record

19 October 2026

MICHAEL DUMESNY 

Monteagle reinsman Blake Micallef continued his run of success in country cups on Sunday afternoon by taking out the $19,890 West Wyalong S&C Club Pacers Cup aboard the Grant Jones-trained Champagne Walsh.

A fortnight ago, Micallef scored his biggest win to date in the gig when he guided Seaside Sid to an all-the-way win in the time-honoured Canola Cup at Eugowra and produced a perfect drive the get Champagne Walsh home first on Sunday.

Despite being up in grade, the gelding had drawn well in gate three and Micallef was able to get his charge away fast to find the lead before handing it up to the Amanda Turnbull-trained and reined Shez Sweet Louise who in turn surrendered to race favourite Captain Moonlight (Nathan Jack).

Not fazed by being buried three back along the pegs, Micallef sat patiently, confident that some of the opposition would struggle to cope with the longer 2540m trip.

In the final lap gaps started to appear and Micallef weaved his way through the field, spotting an inside gap at the top of the lane, guiding the four-year-old along the pegs to overhaul Shez Sweet Louise in the run to the line to score by a head.

“It was great thrill to pick up that race for Grant,” said Micallef.

“I have driven this fella at his past five starts and won with him at Cowra last month.

“Grant does a great job with his horses, and it was very satisfying to combine with him to win a Cup race.

“Going into Sunday’s feature, Grant and I both felt that if we snared an ounce of luck, we had a fair chance despite him being 30-1 in the betting.

“Luckily we gained the breaks, and the horse did the rest.

“Moving forward I think he will be a horse that will keep improving as he goes through the grades.”

Micallef will head to Bathurst on Wednesday with his stable star Seaside Sid for a three-year-old event, one of 10 races on a strong program.

Despite drawing gate ten on the second line alongside fellow last start winner Lexy, Seaside Sid will be suited by the 2260m trip, a similar distance to that of the Canola Cup.

“I am happy to be drawn behind them over the longer trip, hopefully we will gain a suitable run in transit, Micallef quipped.”