There was no love lost between Kelly McCulloch and Rosie Myers at the end of a testing Group 3 New Zealand Cup at Riccarton yesterday.
The sisters fought out a desperate finish in the Christchurch Casino-sponsored marathon with the older sibling gaining the upper hand on the line aboard PumpUp The Volume by half a head.
Trained by part-owner Ralph Manning, the genuine son of Savabeel came wide on the home turn and finished doggedly to take the major prize from Myers' mount Perfect Start.
"He got a bit lost out there on his own and I thought Rosie may have nabbed me," McCulloch said.
"The key to these two mile races is to put them to sleep and he had no trouble. He's a great horse and a pleasure to ride."
Perfect Start also settled at the tail-end but, unlike her sister, Myers came between runners on the Wayne Hillis-trained outsider and that nearly proved a winning move for the 29-year-old.
Imperium ran on gallantly to take third from Gentil Tonton and hot-pot Nymph Monte was next home. He was under pressure before the turn and boxed on well.