Maher enters 16 for the Melbourne Cup
The Ciaron Maher stable may not have the largest number of entries for the Melbourne Cup, but it has a mix of horses already in Australia along with those to travel from Europe.
Nominations closed on Tuesday for the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5, with Maher entering 16 horses for Group 1 race.
Chris Waller heads the nomination tally with 21, but Maher holds a strong hand as he chases a second win in the Melbourne Cup having scored with Gold Trip in 2022.
Of the 16 entries, Maher said if the stable could have a ‘handful’ of runners, he would be happy.
“They’re all not going to get there, but if we had a good handful, we’d be happy,” Maher said.
“I’m very happy with this year’s group and I would say it is quite comparable to previous years.
“I think the stable has had four and six runners in past years and four of them have finished in the top ten previously.
“I think we’ve got some nice acquisitions and the ones that are here, they’re on the right path.”
Maher pointed to Sydney Cup winner Circle Of Fire, Saint George, who made his Australian debut at Caulfield last Saturday, along with Berkshire Breeze and Interpretation as potentially the best of the local hopes.
Those coming from Europe to watch for are Middle Earth, Royal Supremacy and Sayedaty Sadaty.
“Circle Of Fire’s turn of foot in Sydney in the lead up to his Sydney Cup win, his sectionals were very slick, and we know he runs two miles,” Maher said.
“Saint George brings that same sort of form that Middle Earth has got, but it’s 12 months down the track and the two miles should be no trouble for him either.”
Maher said Berkshire Breeze and Interpretation had been progressing well through winter, just as Persan and Grand Promenade had done when winding up with a good finishing position.
He said both those horses would try to gain a Golden Ticket into the Melbourne Cup by winning The Archer (2500m) on September 14 or The Bart Cummings (2500m) on October 5.
Maher said Middle Earth was an exciting horse.
“If you take out his last run, his form is some of the best in the world,” Maher said.
“He’s a very exciting horse and has been gelded since then. He’s with Harry Eustace at the moment, and he’s very happy with him.
“Sayedaty Sadaty, he’s the right sort of horse, he’s a progressive stayer, improving with each run and has had the right grounding with racing over there.”
Maher said a horse from ‘left field’ that could emerge as a Cup contender was Promises Kept who ran second in the South Australian Derby and fourth in Queensland Derby last year and has only had three runs since.
“He trialled well the other day,” Maher said.
“Things would have to go right for him, but he could be that type of horse that if he’s winning a country cup, Bendigo, or Geelong, hopefully he could be in there.”
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...