Trials have Tycoon poised for All Aged Stakes assault
Fresh from plundering two Group One races on Queen Elizabeth Stakes day, Ciaron Maher will be looking to keep his winning momentum rolling into the final major of the Sydney autumn carnival.
Maher will saddle up Southport Tycoon in the $1.5 million All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday, seven days after producing Circle Of Fire to win the Sydney Cup (3200m) and Pride Of Jenni to score a stunning victory in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Southport Tycoon was slated to line up in the Doncaster Mile (1600m) two weeks ago but drew an outside gate and was scratched, Maher opting to instead re-route towards Saturday’s feature.
“He was ready to go a couple of weeks ago, that was a target for him and we scratched, but he’s had a trial and he’s in great order,” Maher said.
“(His) form is huge and the horse is in a great spot.”
Southport Tycoon hasn’t raced since claiming to scalps of Veight and Riff Rocket in the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 2.
However, he has been kept up to the mark with two Sydney trials, most recently at Warwick Farm last week when ridden by his Guineas-winning jockey Jamie Kah, who sticks with him this weekend.
Maher says those hitouts have Southport Tycoon spot-on and he has no qualms over the three-year-old going into Saturday’s race with six weeks between runs.
“Not really. Jamie couldn’t have been more complimentary the other day,” he said.
Maher has been enjoying a heady run of form at all levels, producing 11 winners from his past 50 starters leading into Wednesday’s midweek meetings.
He had 14 runners over the two days of The Championships for a trio of Group victories – two with Circle of Fire and one with Pride Of Jenni – along with two feature race placings courtesy of Erno’s Cube (Percy Sykes Stakes) and Semana (Queen Of The Turf Stakes).
If Southport Tycoon can overcome the older horses on Saturday, he will become the third three-year-old to win the All Aged Stakes in the past seven years after Trapeze Artist (2018) and Giga Kick last year.
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...
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...
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...
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...
