Article content“He’s a special horse and handled the post parade really, really well. He was calm, he walked and did everything right. It takes that kind of horse to win a Gold Cup and Saucer.”Article contentArticle content Corey MacPherson raises the Gold Cup and Saucer trophy after driving Miki Shan N to a 1:55.2 victory in the $100,000 race, presented by Atlantic Lottery, at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park on Aug. 16. Trainer Chris MacKay is standing behind MacPherson. Jason Simmonds/The Guardian Photo by Jason Simmonds /The GuardianArticle contentArticle contentFIRST GOLD CUPArticle contentThe win also marked the first Gold Cup and Saucer win for MacKay.Article content“I’m pretty excited about the whole thing,” said MacKay. “Ever since he came, he’s been perfect for us. He’s a nice little horse all the way around.”Article contentMacKay said Miki Shan N had an easy week leading up to the Gold Cup and Saucer.Article content“We paddocked him, and I trained him a very little bit one day and just jogged him lightly,” said MacKay. “We weren’t going to use him too hard, and it was the same routine we’ve done since he came. It worked out.”Article contentArticle contentRARE COMPANYArticle contentMiki Shan N also joined selected company as one of only a few horses to win both the Gold Cup and Saucer and the Governor’s Plate in Summerside in the same year.Article contentArticle contentArticle content“I’m happy for that, for sure,” said MacKay.Article contentArticle content The field is off and pacing in the 66th Gold Cup and Saucer at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park on Aug. 16. Jason Simmonds/The Guardian Photo by Jason Simmonds /The GuardianArticle contentArticle contentSTART OF RACEArticle contentAs the Gold Cup and Saucer field lined up behind the starting gate, MacPherson made a big decision just before the wings folded.Article content“I had my nose on the gate; I made sure I was ready to attack if I had to,” said MacPherson. “There were a lot of hard leavers in there and I thought there might be a hot half.Article content“Getting to the quarter pole, I said, ‘There’s only one parked out and he’s going to have to be the one to follow.’Article content“I followed him (Poseidon Seelster) and he raced huge to be second because he was out a long, long ways, too, and he did the road work for me. He deserves a lot of credit as well.”Article contentMacPherson sat fifth after the first of two trips around the half-mile track.Article content“At the half, I wondered how far Poseidon Seelster could take me because, like I say, he was doing the roadwork on the outside for me,” said MacPherson. “He took me as far as I needed to go and I might have actually moved a little too early, but I knew I had lots of horse, and it worked.”Article contentArticle contentMacPherson said Miki Shan N made his move to the front halfway around the final turn after fractions of 27 seconds, 55 seconds and 1:24.1.Article content“Off the last turn, my horse drew away and he felt great,” said MacPherson.Article contentMacKay acknowledged there were some nervous moments during the Gold Cup and Saucer.Article content“I thought with the number of good horses that were in there, I knew we might give it a shot,” said MacKay. “Then when I saw he was sitting back a way, I said, ‘God, I hope they get tired soon or we’re not going to be there.’Article content“Then, all of a sudden, he swung out and he was coming and coming. Then he cleared and I said, ‘He’s not quitting now.’”Article contentArticle contentCHANCE TO DRIVEArticle contentMacPherson described the opportunity to drive Miki Shan N as being in the right place at the right time.Article contentHughes had driven Miki Shan N to victory in the Governor’s Plate after Marc Campbell won an elimination race but drove Roll Em in the Governor’s Plate final.
Corey MacPherson and Miki Shan N team up to win before big crowd in Charlottetown
