He accounted for a good field in the $100,000 Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth at his last start, his third successive win. He had won the Whyte Handicap at Trentham over the Winter Cup distance, 1600m, at his previous start.
Taking The Mickey is attempting successive Winter Cup wins, a feat last achieved by Rongonui, who won three in a row from 1988. Taking The Mickey is a 9yr-old and the last of that age to win a Winter Cup was Diamond Pal in 1977. Taking The Mickey has 55.5kg, 1kg more than he carried last year.
An 8yr-old has won the Winter Cup the past three years. Halls, Jowka and Propel are 8yr-olds in the field tomorrow.
Jowka and Propel are trained by Mark Oulaghan, who has won the Winter Cup with Shamrock Star (2008) and Amore Mia (1996) and Jolly Rodger (2000).
Shamrock Star was ridden by Buddy Lammas, who has the mount on Jowka.
Propel finished 12th in the Winter Cup last year.
Don't Say Clang (third), Elblitzem (fourth) and Yanna Marie (sixth) last year, are in the field tomorrow.
Elblitzem, the top weight, is the mount of Mark Du Plessis, who is resuming in New Zealand after a two-month stint in Hong Kong. He rode Green Birdie to win the group one KrisFlyer Sprint in Singapore during his stint.
Du Plessis won the 2004 Winter Cup on Go The Naki. David Walsh, who has won the Winter Cup on Always Summer (1985) and Lord Monty (2007), will renew his association with Eel Win tomorrow.
Eel Win resumed from a three-month break to win over 1200m under 58kg at Oamaru nine days ago.
Walsh rode Eel Win to win the 2009 White Robe Lodge Handicap and Hororata Cup.
Jonathon Riddell has the chance for an unusual double tomorrow. He rides Tick Tock Turbo in the Winter Cup, No Rush'n (Koral Steeplechase) and Solid Steal (Sydenham Hurdles).
Tick Tock Turbo, who has won three of his four starts at Riccarton, is trained by Lisa Latta. The Awapuni trainer has won the Winter Cup with Mikki Street (2006) and Tuscany Warrior (2003). Robert Hannam, who rode Tuscany Warrior, has the mount on Faaltless tomorrow.
Faaltless and Romany are among the hopes to restore a South Island-trained winner to the Winter Cup record book after 10 North Island wins in a row.
Counter Punch and Yourtheman give Oulaghan a strong hand in the Koral Steeples.
Counter Punch has not raced over country since he won the race last year. He has had three races on the flat this campaign. He won the Homeby Steeples at his other attempt over Riccarton country.
