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Affable trainer Paddy Cunningham is hoping to record back to back home town cup wins with Carry Me Gee Gee in the Macdonald & Macdonald Glen Innes Cup (1400m) on Saturday.

Cunningham, raised in Ben Loman just outside Glen Innes, won last year’s cup with Miss Caitlyn ridden by stable apprentice Jodi Worley.

The same combination team up again on Saturday.

“Back to back wins? That would be really great,” Cunningham who moved from Grafton back to Glen Inness four months back suggested. “Carry Me Gee Gee is in great form. We’re hoping for another win.”

Cunningham, who did his apprenticeship with Hunter Kinler in Glen Innes, also won the cup as a rider aboard Casino Joe for Kilner in the 1970’s.

Carry Me Gee Gee has been in dynamite form this campaign since returning from a 30 week spell.

The five-year-old by Carry The Flag out of Gee Gee, bred by Cunningham and raced by Cunningham and his wife Kaye, finished runner-up over 1400m at Armidale on November 21 before posting wins over 1400m at Grafton and 1200m at Inverell on December 6 and 26 respectively.

“He’s about as good as I can get him at the moment,” Cunningham said. “Even though it was a non-TAB meeting at Inverell last start he won well. He couldn’t have done more.

“I don’t know whether he’s improved again but he’s certainly held his own and Saturday does look a nice race for him. His barrier (one) and weight (54kg) is good.

“He had foot problems last time in but his feet are good now and he’s come back a stronger horse.

“I don’t do a lot with him in between runs. He’s only had the one decent gallop since Inverell.

“He’s in a paddock during the day and keeps himself pretty fit.”

Cunningham has fond memories of Carry Me Gee Gee’s dam.

“She won a 2000 metres maiden in Brisbane and was placed at 200-1 once,” Cunningham recalled. “Carry Me Gee Gee is a bit different to the mother.

“There’s not a lot of him. He’d only be 15.1 hands if that.

“He’s always up to no good, getting into mischief all the time.”