Circle Of Fire firms for the 2024 Sydney Cup
Imported stayer Circle Of Fire has firmed to the second line of Sydney Cup betting after securing a ballot exemption into the Group 1 race with a narrow-but-impressive victory in the Chairman’s Quality at Randwick.
In his third Australian start, the English import was sent out the $3.60 betting app favourite in Saturday’s Group 2 race over 2600m and the four-year-old chased down Hopeful to score by a long neck with Double Cherry another 1-1/4-lengths away third.
The winner of the Chairman’s is exempt from ballot and weight penalty for next Saturday’s Sydney Cup (3200m) at the same track, and Circle Of Fire firmed from $11 to $6 with Aussie betting sites after the victory.
Circle Of Fire has been allocated 50kg in the Sydney Cup but all weights are expected to increase at acceptance time.
Last Saturday’s Tancred Stakes runner-up More Felons heads the Sydney Cup market at $4.50 with Circle Of Fire’s stablemate Ashrun also at $6.
Trainer Ciaron Maher confirmed the Sydney Cup was in his plans for Circle Of Fire so long as the horse comes through the win as he hopes he will.
He said the Chairman’s Quality had been part of the Sydney Cup plan for the lightly raced stayer, just as last week’s Doncaster Prelude was part of the plan to secure Another Wil his Doncaster Mile exemption.
“Because we were down in the ratings we had to win a race like this,” Maher said.
“A bit like Another Wil.
“He looked a bit fresh today so hopefully that’s just what he needed.
“Hopefully he pulls up well. He looks like he has pulled up pretty good, and we can roll on to next week.”
Circle Of Fire’s first Australian victory took his overall record to two wins from nine starts.
He was ridden to victory by apprentice Dylan Gibbons, who steered Explosive Jack to Sydney Cup success last year for the Maher stable.
The Offer in 2014 is the most recent stayer to complete the Chairman’s Quality-Sydney Cup double in 2014 while Knight’s Order (2022), Selino (2021), Shraaoh (2019) and Grand Marshal (2015) all came through the Chairman’s on their way to winning the Sydney Cup.
More Racing News
Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win
Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...
Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention
Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...
Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025
Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...
The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick
Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...
Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024
One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...
Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova
Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...
Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion
Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...
Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize
Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...
Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon
A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...
Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge
Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...
