Racing: Sister act in marathon battle for Cup honours

Kelly McCulloch on Pump Up The Volume beats sister Rosie Myers.

There was no love lost between Kelly McCulloch and Rosie Myers at the end of a testing Group 3 New Zealand Cup at Riccarton yesterday.

The sisters fought out a desperate finish in the Christchurch Casino-sponsored marathon with the older sibling gaining the upper hand on the line aboard Pump Up The Volume by half a head.

Trained by part-owner Ralph Manning, the genuine son of Savabeel came wide on the home turn and finished doggedly to take the major prize from Myers' mount Perfect Start.

"He got a bit lost out there on his own and I thought Rosie may have nabbed me," McCulloch said.

"The key to these two mile races is to put them to sleep and he had no trouble. He's a great horse and a pleasure to ride."

Pump Up The Volume relaxed well toward the back of the field before improving 800m from home when the well-supported Nymph Monte also made his move.

"I got on the back of the favourite and I knew I was going better than him," McCulloch said.

It was the 33-year-old's third Cup victory having won aboard Hoorang in 2008 and with Mungo Jerry in 2014.

Perfect Start also settled at the tail-end but, unlike her sister, Myers came between runners on the Wayne Hillis-trained outsider and that nearly proved a winning move for the 29-year-old.

Imperium ran on gallantly to take third from Gentil Tonton and hot-pot Nymph Monte was next home. He was under pressure before the turn and boxed on well.

- NZ Racing Desk