Malliff bids for another Countrys Cups Challenge

By Glenn Davis

It’s been six years since Far North Queensland trainer Alex Malliff came to Brisbane to conquer the Country Cups Challenge Final with former cult hero Paniagua.

Malliff was then a hobby trainer while working fulltime as a plumber. After giving up plumbing two years ago to train full time, Malliff now has a stable of 18 horses in work at Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands.

He is hoping to return for next month’s Country Cups Challenge Final at Doomben and will rely on Amalfi Amore or stablemate Cyclone Coco if either can win a qualifier at Cooktown on Saturday.

“It’s hard to choose which is my better hope but if either win then we’re off to Brisbane for the final,” Malliff said.

“I won the Country Cups Challenge with Paniagua in 2020 and I’d love to do it again.”

Malliff is not afraid to travel his horses and had two starters in last year’s Country Cups Challenge Final with Love On Sunday and Devil Kick who both finished at the tail of the field.

Both Malliff’s hopes this year were cheap buys with Amalfi Amore costing $4,000 from NSW trainer Terry Evans while Cyclone Coco was a paltry $2,500 buy off Riverina trainer Kerry Weir. 

Eight-year-old Amalfi Amore has won three of his 11 starts since moving to Malliff’s stables and is coming off a last start third to the Lachie Manzelmann-trained The Driller in the Innisfail Cup over 2000 metres last month.

“His last run at Innisfail was terrific and he's battle hard,” Malliff said.

“He found himself in the lead too early when it prefers to take a sit.

“I was really proud of his run and he’ll be hard to beat if he can camp off the speed.”

Cyclone Coco has been in the winner’s stall four times for Malliff and is coming off strong form at his last two starts at Ewan and Innisfail.

The five-year-old won a 1600-metre Class 4 at Ewan on September 26 before finishing second to the Mark Atkinson-trained Dragon Son in a 1400-metre Benchmark race at Innisfail last Saturday.

“It’s Cyclone Coco’s first go at the trip but he has won up to 1600 metres,” Malliff said.

“He’s by Toronado so I can’t see why he wouldn’t run the journey.”

Malliff has booked regular rider, apprentice Sam Pointon to partner Amalfi Amore while Japanese rider Shohei Kaya will be legged up on Cyclone Coco.