McGuire has room for another Cup trophy

By Glenn Davis

Townsville trainer Matthew McGuire has a few country Cups in his trophy cabinet but there’s room for more.

McGuire is hoping Mission House can become his latest Cups winner when the five-year-old tackles the Ingham Gold Cup over 1600 metres at Ingham on Saturday.

“I’ve won a few country Cups, but I’ve never won this race,” McGuire said.

“We’re hoping for a bit of a redemption this year after Going Nuclear was beaten a nose in it last year.”

McGuire has been training since the 2018-19 season after cutting his teeth in the greyhound game.

He was one of the few who held both a greyhound and thoroughbred trainer’s license at the same time when he first started off.

But, the 32-year-old was always destined to be thoroughbred trainer as his mother was a trainer and his father was a former a jockey and also trains.

McGuire admitted he was tossing up whether to start Mission House who is coming off a close second to the Troy Clive-trained Elleves in a 1460 metre Benchmark race at Home Hill last month.

“I was only 50-50 about starting him in the Ingham Cup until I saw the small nominations,” McGuire said.

“He led them up last start when he ran second and he had to carry a big weight.

“It was a very good effort and he only just got caught.

“He did it tough in front but he’s a tough horse who always tries his best.”

McGuire started off training greyhounds after he finished school but racing has always been in his blood.

“I had just finished high school when I went to the greyhounds one night with some mates when I just decided to give training dogs a go,” he said.

McGuire, who also plays local cricket in Townsville, has named the Tony Comerford-trained Ready Tiger as the main threat for Mission House.

Ready Tiger has missed a place once in four starts for Comerford since being moved on from Victorian trainer Greg Eurell.

The four-year-old son of Casino Prince won over 1609 metres at Townsville on June 12 before being edged out by Rockhampton galloper Our Turn Now over the same trip on June 29.

“I think Tony’s horse is the one to beat as he looks to be pretty good,” McGuire said.

“Hopefully, we’ll be up in front and out of any trouble.”