Respected jockey searching for seventh NQ Cup win

By Jordan Gerrans

It will be seventh heaven for respected Townsville rider Frank Edwards if he can add to his jam-packed trophy cabinet in Saturday’s Mareeba Cup.

The 59-year-old jockey is a six-time Mareeba Cup winner already, with the victories dating back to the 1990s.

The doyen of riding in North Queensland won the latest of his six Cups at the track last year, lifting Ricky Ludwig’s Lord Of Light to the 2022 edition of the event.

It is not just the staying feature Edwards has enjoyed success in over the years - he claimed the annual Mareeba Bracelet sprint event this time last year aboard the locally-trained Cool Attitude for Jenny Ball.

Edwards – who was born in Papua New Guinea before relocating to Australia – thrives on the non-TAB circuit in North Queensland.

“The Mareeba and Atherton Cups are both races I have won on five or more occasions,” he said.

The Townsville-based jockey teams up with the Janel and Ronnie Ryan stable from Tolga in the 2023 Cup with the consistent Gaelic.

The Ryans are just as prolific as Edwards when it comes to NQ bush Cups over the years.

In 2021 alone, they secured Cups at Atherton, Gordonvale and Cairns, as well as the famous Banana Cup at Innisfail, before finishing the campaign with a Cooktown triumph.

Gaelic last went around on Cairns Newmarket day over 1900 metres.

A small field of six will line-up for the Mareeba Cup on Saturday and Edwards would not trade his mount for any of the other five.

“I think he deserves to be one of the favourites in the race,” Edwards said.

“I have ridden the horse before and finished second at Atherton.

“Gaelic has form around other horses who have performed well across the Mackay and Cairns carnivals, which leaves him with a second to none chance in this race.

“I am certainly happy to be on him.”

Edwards thinks there being speed on over 2000 metres will be helpful for the seven-year-old son of Trusting.

“I hope there is some pace in the race as Gaelic is a horse that settles and runs home,” Edwards said.

“I am hoping one or two will go forward and put an even tempo on, which will allow me settle and come home.

“That will be the big thing for him.”

Edwards was in the winner's enclosure on Thursday at Home Hill as he saluted on Sonofthebeast in Class 3 Plate grade for Ludwig.

As well as his Cup ride on Gaelic, the veteran hoop rates his booking in the maiden on Saturday at Mareeba, believing Dean Piccolo’s Sonic Light is a strong winning hope.

Meanwhile, Mareeba trainer Alex Malliff warmed up for Cup day in style on Thursday by training a winner at Home Hill’s TAB meeting. 

Love On Sunday has now won seven races for the Malliff stable after scoring in the Open Handicap on Thursday.

“He is in good order,” Malliff said.

“There was a bit of an excuse for him last start, he got caught three wide.

“And, he was not overly lucky in Brisbane either, we took him down there and we think a bit of him.

“It is good to come here and get the win anyway, we will take it.”

The local trainer has three runners set to face the starter over the five event non-TAB program on Saturday.