Elvis ready to rock in Cup

POPULAR couple Austin and Julie Mifsud hope to celebrate the anniversary of their emotional South Australia Trotters’ Cup victory with another feature win at Globe Derby on Saturday night.

During last year’s corresponding meeting Austin drove Izmok to glory in the Group Two before giving a tearful speech while discussing his wife and son Willie.

While the state’s premier trotting event has been moved back on the calendar, the Fred Jones Trotters’ Cup is the co-major on the weekend, with Mifsuds to contest the 2645-metre standing start as owners of Its Elvis.

Racing in strong form Its Elvis is trained by Frank Pullicino and will be driven by Austin’s sister, Gaita.

The son of Sundon has finished second at his last three starts from a 20-metre handicap – a mark he will occupy again

“He’s in top form,” Mifsud said. “It hasn’t been easy for him coming off 20 metres.

“He has been runner-up at his last three and before that he had a win and another second.

“It seems as though he keeps finding one better on the night, but in saying that, in three of those four seconds he’s had to give the winner a start.

“Hopefully that won’t be the case on Saturday night and he can pick up another win…he’s earned it!”

Success in the Cup will also be a welcome pain relief for Austin, who is still sidelined as a result of a horrific fall in Charlton last October.

Along with three broken ribs and a collapsed lung, Austin’s shoulder required pins to be inserted which he is waiting to be removed.

“It is taking longer than usual to take the pin out of my shoulder due to Covid,” Austin explained.

“After that I will have a few weeks of rehab and hope to be back by end of March.”