Mulholland stable hoping Elite Power has country cup start on horizon
The son of group 1 superstar The Autumn Sun will race in the NSW feature meeting.
By Neil Evans
January 11, 2026 — 5.00pm
Connections of progressive four-year-old Elite Power will likely set their sights on a feature country Cup over a middle distance if he lands a second win at Monday’s home Dubbo meeting.
Part of a strong team from the local Michael Mulholland stable, Elite Power lines up for only the eighth time, and is fourth-up in his second campaign.
Racing returns to Dubbo on Monday.Credit: Jenny Evans
An improving son of group 1 superstar The Autumn Sun, the four-year-old has shown a real appetite to hit the line this prep, despite still having just that maiden win when resuming at Warren a month ago.
Since then, he has roared home late under a big weight in a Benchmark 50 Hcp at home before an even bigger run in a Class 2 at Orange over 1400m, flashing home from the back to be beaten only a length.
With Jake Pracey-Holmes back in the saddle, Elite Power has to carry 59kg, but he’s very well suited back in Class 1 & Maiden company at set weights, and stepping up in distance.
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Opening around $5 in early betting, he could well challenge for favouritism, given early market rival Swift Gun is unlikely after racing at Wagga on Sunday.
That leaves tough Mudgee galloper and early $4.40 favourite Yorkel fourth-up, and consistent Cowra mare Sabatina as the likely dangers.
The Mulholland yard, with three individual winners from its last 12 runners, will be banking on Elite Power capping a big return.
Earlier, the stable saddles up tough six-year-old Shadow Dane, who is a leading chance in a BM 66 Hcp over 1418m, before Vicious Rumour tackles a winnable Maiden Hcp over 1318m.
But ahead of its first meeting in 2026, the local rivalry doesn’t stop there.
The Brett Robb stable will be confident of finishing the meeting with a bang, starting with the penultimate BM 66 Hcp over 1018m via a pair of stablemates who can dominate the sprint.
Smart five-year-old Wasted Days, from the inside draw, returns for his first run since a Saturday Highway in mid-July, while seven-year-old Press Forward reloads after a fast-finishing and third-up BM 58 Hcp win here.
Then, in the closing Class 2 Hcp (1318m), the Robb camp saddles up capable four-year-old Romantic Love, shooting for a second win from his last four on a rapid-fire eight-day back-up.
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