Punters gallop to back cult horse's bid for nine straight

Paniagua is a far north Queensland sensation. He is going to run in The Gateway at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Paniaggua won at Doomben last Saturday and is on a nine-game winning streak. The winner of TheGateway gets a golden ticket into the 2021 Stradbroke Handicap.  Paniaagaua was transferred from Mareeba horseman Alex Malliff to trainer Glen Baker at Beaudesert this week.

Alex Malliff's horse Paniagua has won eight straight races. The gelding has been transferred to Glen Baker at Beaudesert so he can back-up on Saturday in the $250,000 The Gateway at Eagle Farm.

Malliff was banned for five years for his role in the brawl in 2004 AFL grand final in Cairns. He owns 50 per cent of Mareeba trainer.

Paniagua won the Country Cups Challenge Final at Doomben on Saturday. Malliff was banned for five years. 22 North Cairns players have been suspended for a total of 400 matches.

The $600 buy has won eight consecutive races. Robert Thompson will get more questions about it now.

Malliff was stabbed in 2008. There was a blue outside a pub in which some young men were carrying three-metre spears.

Malliff spent the night in hospital after getting a spear in his chest. His horse is now in the care of Baker. Robert Thompson, the legendary 62-year-old jockey from Cessnock, will return to Queensland to ride The Gateway on Saturday.