Hometown triumph for Malliff in Mareeba Cup

By Jordan Gerrans

Every trainer in the bush is chasing their local Cup and Alex Malliff was able to add the coveted Mareeba Cup to his training resume in 2026.

The 51-year-old has been training for a touch over a decade in Far North Queensland and has long been an advocate for the local Mareeba club and community. 

Malliff’s Heir Jordan started as favourite in Saturday’s Mareeba Cup, but he was upstaged by stablemate Amalfi Amore, who went on to win the 1800 metre event by more than two lengths.

To underline the Malliff team’s commitment to local racing, the stable had eight runners across the non-TAB program on Saturday.

FNQ broadcaster Bluey Forsyth made special mention of the achievement in his call of the $14,000 staying event.

“It’s going to be a local Cup win, Amalfi Amore,” Forsyth proclaimed.

“It’s a local win, Amalfi Amore, Alex Malliff and Tasha Chambers.”

Amalfi Amore had not run in the money in his four starts before Saturday’s event on his home deck, but the gelding bounced back to form in the best possible way.

“That was very exciting for us,” Malliff said.

“We’ve been trying to win this Cup, or trying to find a horse to win this Cup, for probably the best part of 10 years now.

“So, to finally pull it off, that was really exciting. To win a Cup, well, that’s just terrific.

“You could hear it in the crowd there. They went crazy when the local horse won. But, it is a real good country race day, Mareeba Cup.

“They’re really good people that come to the races and they enjoy themselves. And, they’re actually really well educated on the horses, as well.

“They seem to follow the racing around our circuit, anyway.”

The Mareeba Cup triumph aboard Amalfi Amore continued a charmed run for jockey Chambers, who last month also tasted Cup glory at Cluden Park in the Townsville Cup.

Chambers has in recent times relocated north to Townsville from Rockhampton, which has helped deliver her more regular race-day riding opportunities.

“Tash probably had her first ride for me about 10 years ago when I was starting out,” Malliff recalls.

“She rode well for me then and then I think she went down south for a while and I lost track of her.

“But, she’s come back up and this year she’s had an exceptional carnival series, as well. With the Townsville Cup, I wasn’t worried about putting her on, that’s for sure.”

Mareeba Turf Club president Aileen McDonald was thrilled to see a local trainer walk away with the major prize at their popular event.

“Racing in Mareeba has a strong history and days like this show why,” McDonald said.

“It takes an engaged community, a big volunteer effort and the backing of partners to put a card like this together and give racing in Far North Queensland a stage.

“We’re pleased with how the day came together and focused on making the next one even bigger.”

Malliff prepares a team of 20 at Mareeba and was recently crowned the leading trainer of the Far North Country Racing Association last season.

He is best known for the deeds of former popular galloper Paniagua, who won the Country Cups Challenge Final and the Cairns Cup.

As well as the Cup triumph on Saturday, the stable prepared a winner earlier in the program when Speedy Target won over 1000 metres for jockey Ben Kennedy.

Kennedy, who hails from Western Australia, has only recently moved to NQ and has made an immediate impact.

“He is a good rider and nice young bloke,” Malliff said.

“He hasn’t had a lot of rides for me. I think that was his second ride for me. But, I’ll tell you what, when it comes to these country racetracks, it adds a little bit of confidence to you.

“It was a good day; we had two wins, a second and three horses that finished last. So, it was a mixed bag, but any day you get a winner at the races is a good day.”

Heir Jordan is likely to be retired following the Mareeba Cup after suffering an injury in the event.

Heir Jordan won twice and placed a further three times after arriving in FNQ with Malliff earlier this year.